August 19, 2011

LEXINGTON, Va. – Owyn Mason notched two goals for the Bison, as the Howard Univ. women's soccer team dropped a double overtime decision at the Virginia Military Institute Friday afternoon at Patchin Field in Lexington, Va. The matchup was the season opener for both schools. 

With the score tied at three and time running down in the final extra period, the Keydets possessed the ball approximately 20 yards from the Howard net, and was stationed to the right of Bison netminder Chanel Bell. The Keydets executed a give-and-go and shot from 12 yards out - finding the far corner of the net for the game-winner.

Bell made four stops in defeat for Howard. 

VMI controlled the pace early in the game, under skies that were overcast and threatened rain. Jimenez immediately threatened to score, putting a shot on net off a first-minute corner kick, but a Bison defender jumped in front of the attempt for a team save. Freshman Sarah Putney then tested HU's Bell, but the Howard netminder made the save and the game remained scoreless. 

Over the next several minutes, each team attempted to move the ball forward, but neither squad was successful as four offside violations were called.

In the 20th minute, while the home team was attempting to clear the ball out of its own end, a VMI defender misplayed the ball well inside the box. Howard's Ayanna Carter stole the ball and got off a quality shot, but Berrios made a sliding save to keep the match scoreless.

Howard finally broke through in the 30th minute, when Jordan Brown was able to get off a clear shot from Berrios' left and beat the senior for a goal, putting the visitors up 1-0. That lead grew to two goals in the 44th minute, as Mason was able to create a 1 vs. 1 situation and beat Berrios with a high, hard shot to put the Bison up, 2-0.

Under rapidly clearing skies and newly found sunshine, the home team came out quickly in the second half. At 48:46, a change of the field allowed Gabby McCarron to find Myranda Emery for a shot from 10 yards out, which the freshman converted for a goal.

Affronti earned a corner kick in the 66th minute, and got the ball on the resultant possession. Her shot was high, but was tipped by HU keeper Bell, resulting in another corner. In the scrum off Affronti's next try, Sarah Strand drilled the ball by Bell, tying the score at 2. The goal came at 67:12, and was the first in a flurry of scores. 

In the 69th minute, Affronti found Jimenez in the middle of the field, approximately 12 yards from the goal. The junior arched a shot over Bell and into the net, giving the Keydets the lead for the first time, 3-2, and completing a rally that took just 24 minutes. 

Howard came right back, however, as the Bison inserted Mason back into their lineup following Jimenez's goal. The visitors quickly took advantage, as on their next possession, Mason found herself deep in the Keydet zone. A high shot over Berrios' head, from about 15 yards out, beat the VMI keeper and tied the game once again, 3-3. 

The home team threatened in the 76th minute, when an Erica Putney cross just missed Kelly Morrison on the back post. Howard then had perhaps its closest miss of the day, when an open Brown sent a shot just off the crossbar in the 82nd minute. Just two minutes later, Mason had a 1 vs. 1 chance and appeared to miss the near corner of the net by two feet. That would be the final strong threat of regulation, as the match headed to extra time tied, 3-3. 

Howard had another 1 vs. 1 go for naught in the first overtime, when Mason misfired to the far side of the net. Neither team could notch a shot on goal in the initial extra period, but Howard tested Berrios in the 103rd minute. The senior made the save, setting the stage for Affronti's game-winner.

The Bison are back in action on Sunday Aug 21 when they travel to Farmville, Va. to face Longwood.

(Courtesy VMI Media Relations)