Saints Stun Vermont in Final Seconds

September 9, 2015

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Sophomore midfielder Madison Vasquez scored the game-winning goal with just 15.4 seconds remaining in regulation as Siena Women’s Soccer stunned Vermont 3-2 Wednesday afternoon at Siena Field. Senior captain Michelle Yanniello and sophomore midfielder Michele Tremblay also scored for the Saints which swept their season long three-match homestand and ran their unbeaten streak to four.

The decisive play was set up by a foul call on Vermont (2-3) with just 21 seconds remaining, creating a free kick opportunity for junior back Tara Sobierajski from 15 yards outside the top right of the box. Sobierajski bent in a looping kick that senior captain Kirby O’Keefe broke through on. O’Keefe got a head on the ball to knock it past the keeper and Vasquez finished into the open goal to send the Siena (3-1-2) bench into bedlam.

The Saints bookended the match with their three goals, initially jumping out to a seemingly commanding 2-0 lead just 13 minutes in. For the second straight game, the quick strike Saints scored within the first four minutes when senior striker Cassy Landis fed Yanniello who lofted a shot over the keeper for her first goal of the season.

Landis picked up a second assist 10 minutes later when she broke through for a 2-on-2 opportunity. Her initial shot was saved, but Tremblay was right there to fire home the rebound.

But the Catamounts would claw their way back. Nikki McFarland snapped the Saints’ shutout streak of 325:10 when she put Vermont on the board in the 33rd minute and Caitie Green netted the equalizer with just 59.9 seconds remaining in the opening stanza to make it a brand new match headed into halftime tied 2-2.

The Saints turned up the pressure in the second half taking 12 targets as they looked to reclaim the lead, and their persistence ultimately paid off in the final seconds as they ran their unbeaten streak against UVM to nine (8-0-1), while also improving to 29-3-2 (.882) in non-conference home matches dating back to the start of the 2007 season.

The Saints held a 19-15 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corners. Senior keeper Liz Rogan made three saves for the Saints, while Ally Ramos stopped six shots for Vermont which was facing its fourth MAAC opponent in its first five matches.

The Saints head to LIU Brooklyn for their final non-conference road game Friday night. Originally scheduled for a 6 p.m. start, the match will now kick off at 5:30 p.m.  

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