BOSTON, Mass.— (from the UMass Boston press release) Tayla Andrews (Plymouth, Mass.) scored with less than 90 seconds to go in double overtime to lift UMass Boston (12-4-0) to a 2-1 victory over Brandeis University (9-5-1) Thursday afternoon at the Clark Athletic Field.
Andrews took a lead pass from Sam Cristoforo (Rockland, Mass.) and pushed her second touch past charging junior goalkeeper Michelle Savuto (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), before finishing with her left foot. The goal ended a tense 40 minutes, as the two teams had been tied since the 70th minute of play.
Junior goalie Kristen Spain (Quincy, Mass.) made eight stops in the contest for UMass Boston, while Savuto took the loss despite making nine saves on 11 shots on goal.
Junior forward Sapir Edalati (Great Neck, N.J./Great Neck South) scored the lone goal of the day for the Judges.
The two teams finished with virtually identical team statistics, with UMass Boston holding a slight edge in both shots (22-21) and shots on goal (11-9).
Cristoforo got the Beacons onto the scoreboard at the 33:11 mark when she recorded her first marker of the season. The senior midfielder found a loose ball in the box after an Amanda Pugliese (Pembroke, Mass.) corner and flicked it over Savuto's head for a 1-0 lead.
Brandeis answered in the 70th minute when Edalati scored her eighth tally of the season. The striker saw the UMass Boston keeper off her line and brilliantly lifted a high floating shot from 30 yards out that drifted just under the bar to tie the game at 1-1.
After a quiet final 20 minutes of regulation and first nine of overtime, UMass Boston finally put the game away with 79 seconds to play, thanks to the work of two of their senior captains.
Cristoforo came up with a loose ball just short of midfield and after a few dribbles sent a lead pass to Andrews. The senior forward beat two defenders and the charging goalie, touching the ball wide of Savuto before calmly slotting it home.
Both teams return to conference action next. Brandeis plays host to UAA foe Washington University in St. Louis a week from tomorrow. UMass Boston will travel to Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon for a Little East Conference matchup.