MADISON, N.J. - Freshman
Ayla Lopez scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute and the Drew University women's soccer team rallied for a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over FDU-Florham in the Battle of Madison Avenue Tuesday evening at a wet Ranger Stadium.
The Rangers (8-8) trailed 2-0 before junior
Sarah Racine pulled her team even with two goals in 73 seconds midway through the second half. She also assisted on Lopez's game-winner.
Drew picked up its first victory over its cross-town rival since a 2-0 triumph in 2015.
It was an extremely tight game, as each side finished with 15 shots. Freshman
Angela Accetturo made four saves for Drew while Ashley Paulino stopped seven shots for FDU (12-6-1).
Lopez attempted the only two shots in OT, as her first attempt was saved by Paulino. Then with just over two minutes gone by, Racine took a throw-in from the left side, dribbled past a pair of defenders, and delivered a beautiful centering pass into the box. Lopez beat Paulino to the ball and one-timed it into the middle of the net, setting off a Ranger celebration on the field.
Junior
Leah Dentale helped spark Drew's comeback, assisting on each of her team's first two goals. In the 61st minute, she sent a cross from the left side, finding Racine inside the box. With her momentum carrying her to the right, Racine flicked a shot across her body and inside the left post, making it a 2-1 game.
Just over a minute later, Dentale lofted a cross from the right corner. Senior
Sydney Ziemba knocked it down inside the box, deflecting it to a wide-open Racine on the right side. She tapped the ball into an open net to pull her team even with her seventh goal of the season.
Each side managed just one shot on goal over the remainder of the half, although FDU nearly won it in the closing seconds of regulation, when Madeline Finnegan missed just wide of the net.
The Rangers had plenty of scoring opportunities in the first half, and Racine just missed on a header off a perfect cross from Lopez in the fifth minute.
The Devils went in front in the 16th minute, when Finnegan headed in a cross from Nicolette Roberts. The Rangers had an excellent look in the 22nd minute when Dentale found herself in a 1-on-1 with the keeper, but her shot was hauled in by Paulino.
Drew threatened again on the first corner kick of the game. Racine's offering deflected off the goalie to Lopez, who had her rebound knocked away by Paulino. Later in the half, Racine broke free on a breakaway up. the middle of the field but had her shot saved and it was a 1-0 game at the half. Paulino made five saves in the opening period.
FDU doubled its lead in the 53rd minute, when Erica Martins sent home a shot from just beyond the 18, setting up Drew's comeback.
The Rangers close out the regular season on Saturday, when they visit Susquehanna University in a Landmark Conference tilt starting at 4 p.m.