Spartano Lifts SU to Double Overtime Win

Sunday, October 2

SU Soccer Stadium

1:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Georgetown

Nikki Spartano scored the first goal of her career to beat the Hoyas.

10/2/2005 4:29:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Boxscore

SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Nikki Spartano (Syracuse, N.Y.) lined a shot over Georgetown goalkeeper Jade Higgins in the 103^rd minute to lift Syracuse to a 1-0 double overtime victory against the Hoyas, snapping SU’s streak of four straight ties.

SU came out firing, out shooting the Hoyas 6-4 in the opening half of play. Georgetown had three corner kick opportunities in the opening half, however could not produce any goals off them.

The game would remain scoreless through the entire second half with each team getting off five shots leaving the match to be decided in overtime.

Georgetown had its opportunities to score in the first overtime getting off three shots, one of which was on goal with Orange goaltender Emily Kowalczyk (Dayton, Ohio) making the save to keep Syracuse’s hopes alive. The first extra session ended with both teams knotted up at 0-0.

The Hoyas had possession in the second half until a ball bounced off a Georgetown defender going out of bounds near mid field giving the Orange control. SU eventually got the ball down into Georgetown territory where Lauren Cappelli (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) found a charging Spartano, dishing off a pass that led to the game-winning goal as Spartano fired a shot into the upper right side of the goal over Higgins’ head, giving SU the 1-0, double overtime victory.

Kowalczyk had five saves in the game earning her eighth career shutout. Higgins had four saves in the loss.

SU improves to 3-5-4, 2-0-3 in the BIG EAST, with the win while Georgetown falls to 10-2-1, 3-0-1 in the BIG EAST. SU will next be in action Tuesday when it travels to take on Dartmouth at 2 p.m.