IAC GIRLS SOCCER: SVEC EDGES UNION SPRINGS, 3-2, IN DOUBLE-OT (5 PHOTOS) (2024-10-08)

Tioga County Sports Report
UNION SPRINGS — Freshman Allie Lyon scored nearly 16 1/2 minutes into extra play to lift SVEC to a 3-2 double-overtime win over Union Springs here Tuesday afternoon in IAC crossover girls soccer action.

“Today was a really, really tough, hard-fought game,” said first-year SVEC coach Michael Leljedal. “We had a few things stacked against us right from the beginning, with a few girls being under the weather and no time to warm up.

“This wasn’t ideal as I’ve been stressing to the girls how important this game was for playoff seeding,” noted Leljedal. We got off to a poor start … I could tell the girls were sluggish and the lack of pre-game warmup was evident.

“We were able to get out of the funk pretty quickly and score two quick goals in what I think was some of our best 15 minutes of the season.

“After those 15 minutes though, we didn’t play to our standard for the remainder of the regulation,” he said. “They fought back hard to tie us at 2-2 and had us on the back foot for a good 60 minutes.

“I have to credit USPB, they were the better team throughout the majority of the game. They played well within their midfield and put us under a lot of pressure,” added Leljedal. “Thankfully, our defense and goalie were able to hold us down while we tried to find some footing.”

Meradyth Stouffer, off a feed from Lyon, put the Eagles on the board about 4 1/2 minutes into the game.

Amelia Morris gave SVEC a 2-0 lead, but goals by Makenna Pantoliano and Brooke Brambly tied the game at 2-2.

With 3:35 remaining in the second overtime, Lyon found the net with the game-winner.

“Once OT hit, the girls started rolling,” said Leljedal. “Trusting one another, passing through the midfield, making good forward runs and passes.

“Eventually in the second OT, Allie Lyon was able to work her way through the defense and get off a quick shot in their box to put the game away.

“We know we have to play better than we did tonight going into these last few games if we want to give ourselves a chance for playoffs, and I know the girls are capable of it,” added Leljedal.

Union Springs had an 18-7 advantage in shots-on-goal.

Nicole Poli recorded nine saves in net for the Eagles.

SVEC returns to action Thursday at Thomas A. Edison.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF REBECCA LYON.

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