Sept. 21, 2008
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Freshman Hannah Lapp's goal just over three minutes into overtime gave the St. Bonaventure women's soccer team its third consecutive win as it defeated Buffalo, 2-1, on Sunday at McGraw Jennings Field.
The late game-winning goal marks the second consecutive game the youthful Bonnies have come away from the dramatic ending on top. A week ago, the Brown and White defeated Pittsburgh by scoring with 20 seconds left in regulation.
The win equals St. Bonaventure's win total from all of last season at 5-3 heading into the start of Atlantic 10 play. The loss is the first of the season for the Bulls (4-1-2).
"Give credit to Buffalo because I thought their intensity took us out of our rhythm in the first half," said head coach Manoj Khettry. "I was excited that we stepped up in the second half to comeback and win against a team that has given up one goal the entire season. Our attacking players showed a lot of resolve today."
Buffalo controlled most of the play in the first half and it paid off in the 18th minute when Andrea Vescio headed home a corner kick from MAC leading scorer Lindsey Bailey.
The Bonnies were able to create chances off corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes, but were unable to convert as Buffalo took an 8-5 shot advantage and a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard into the locker room at the half.
The 15-minute halftime proved to be the cure for the Brown and White as momentum shifted right from kick-off. After pestering the UB goalie with shots and corner kicks, the Bonnies finally broke through in the 65th minute as sophomore Anna Cunningham notched her sixth goal of the season. The play began on a quickly-played corner from freshman Hannah Lapp to Cunningham, who dribbled to the corner of the box and fired a shot into the upper right corner.
The best scoring chance over the final 25 minutes of regulation belonged to Buffalo as Lindsey Bailey touched the ball over charging Bona keeper Nicole Markert, but the ball was booted out of bounds right before crossing the line by freshman defender Kaitlin Krisko.
With new life thanks to Krisko and the start of overtime, St. Bonaventure wasted little time in giving the 422 in attendance something to cheer about as Lapp ripped a shot from outside the goal box that glanced off the goalies finger tips into the net for the comeback win. The goal happened just three minutes into the extra frame and was the first score of Lapp's collegiate career.
Lost in the dramatic victory was the play of Markert, who made six saves. Markert turned away several UB shots from close range to keep it a one-goal game in the first half.
Cunningham's goal gives her a goal in three consecutive games, all wins for the Bonnies.
St. Bonaventure will begin A-10 play next weekend, starting with a road trip to UMass. The Bonnies will kick-off at noon on Friday against the Minutewomen and will return home to host defending A-10 Champs Charlotte on Sunday.
