Box Score
Box Score

POTSDAM, N.Y.—Clarkson University (7-2) rallied with less than five minutes left to force overtime and defeat the SUNY Potsdam women's soccer team (3-5-2) 2-1 in the 93rd minute. Golden Knight junior midfielder Sarah Andres tied the game on a direct kick and freshman midfielder Taylor Abraham scored on her own rebound to lift Clarkson. Sophomore forward Ashley Thayer scored for Potsdam. 

The Golden Knights held the edge in play early in the contest, but the Bears defense stood fast until the offense got going. In the 27th minute, Potsdam junior forward Heather Johnson launched a corner kick into a crowd and Thayer fired a shot off the post for the best chance of the first half. Clarkson recovered and was able to maintain pressure on the Bears' defense for the remainder of the half, but didn't score.

Early in the second half, the teams battled evenly, but Potsdam drew first blood. In the 57th minute, Johnson received a pass up the left side of the field and sent a cross into the box. Thayer played the ball off of Clarkson freshman goalkeeper Brianna Thibeau and kicked it into the empty net. Again the Golden Knights responded with pressure of their own, but were thwarted by the Bears' strong defensive play and senior goalie Dedra Palmer. With just over five minutes remaining, Potsdam was whistled for a foul and Andres was awarded a kick just outside the box. She blasted a shot over the Bears' wall and off the fingertips of Palmer to tie the game with 4:55 left.

Clarkson wasted little time in the extra period. Just two minutes into overtime a Golden Knight attacker fired a shot off the crossbar that bounced down in front of Palmer. Abraham kicked it off the right post and then stuffed her rebound home at the 92:18 mark.

Bears Head Coach Mark Misiak was understandably disappointed in the outcome.

“It was a silly free kick to give away,” said Misiak. “And I don't think we responded well after giving up the tying goal so late. It was a very disappointing loss. I thought we played really well for 85 minutes and again it's the story of two simple mistakes and we come out on the losing end.”

Potsdam looks to rebound on Friday, Oct. 7, when it hosts Oneonta at 4 p.m.