UN Completes CAA Sweep with 2-1 Win Over GMU

by Adam Nichols
October 8, 2012

Blue Hen senior forward Ali Miller tallied her second-straight, game-winning goal in Delaware’s 2-1 overtime victory over George Mason University in Colonial Athletic Association action Sunday afternoon at Delaware Mini Stadium.

Delaware (5-4, 2-0) completed the weekend-home sweep against CAA competition and earned its third-straight victory while George Mason fell to a 4-6-1 overall record and 0-1-1 in the conference.

“Sunday’s are always a gritty type of match during the CAA schedule,” Delaware head coach Scott Grzenda said. “I’m proud of the girls, I thought they left everything out on the field in today’s overtime win.”

Tied at 1-1 in the overtime period, Miller pushed the defense with her speed and off a rebound smashed the ball into the lower left side of the Patriots goal at the 95-minute mark of the overtime for the game-winning goal.

The Blue Hens took an early lead in the 22nd minute of the first half when junior forward Shannon Kearney registered her first goal of the season On an unassisted play, Kearney stopped the ball trying to being cleared by Mason’s defense and sprinted into a clearing before firing the shot into the back of the net.

In the 60th-minute of the second half, George Mason’s leading scorer, Tiana Kallenberger, took a rebound off of a Blue Hen defender inside UD’s penalty box and kicked the ball into the back of the net for the game-tying goal that was here seventh on the season.

The final 30 minutes were a see-saw battle between Delaware and George Mason that eventually put the CAA match into overtime.

Delaware goalkeeper Jessica Levy tallied her third-straight victory in goal for the Blue Hens after the junior made six saves.

“Jess has been solid every time that she’s started in goal for us and done well,” Grzenda added about Levy’s play as goalkeeper. “The team is getting more comfortable with her in goal and she is playing smarter and smarter after each match.”

George Mason’s goalkeeper, Lyndse Hokanson, tallied six saves in defeat for the Patriots.

The Blue Hens outshot the Patriots, 12-10, in the win with senior midfielder Tania Domingos leading UD with three shots on goal. Kallenberger and Kelly Pizzingrilli each had two shots on goal for GMU.

The UD quartet of Chelsea Duffy, Miller, Melissa Pennington and assistant coach Nitan Soni were handed yellow cards during the match.

The Blue Hens will take their longest road trip of the season next week when UD travels to Georgia State on Friday, September 28 at 7 p.m. and complete the weekend with a road match against UNCW on Sunday, September, 30 at 1 p.m.

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