Second overtime win of the season keeps Athenas perfect

CLAREMONT, Calif., – Late scores for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas helped propel them to a 17-14 victory over the SUNY New Paltz Hawks in an overtime thriller.  The Athenas now improve to 6-0 overall and seem to have a knack for winning close games as three games have been decided by two points or less and two games have gone to overtime.

The Athenas started the game strong as Katie Hill and Cara Cancelmo both scored inside the first 80 seconds of play. The Hawks responded as Lianne Valdivia and Melissa Wagner responded to even the game up at two goals apiece. The two teams battled back and forth for most of the first half and were tied at 6-6 until under a minute left to go in the first half when Christina Coffin scored with 22 seconds left followed by Hill who scored with one second left on a free position shot to give the Athenas an 8-6 lead going into half.

New Paltz started the second half strong as they went on a 5-0 run that was started by Valdivia and capped by two straight goals from Carissa Citro that gave New Paltz an 11-8 lead. CMS answered with a 4-0 run of their own that was started by Ellen Berkley and ended with Tarah Gilbreth scoring just inside the thirteen minute mark to give CMS a 12-11 lead.

With CMS ahead 14-13 after a goal by Zoe Pinczower at 1:41 and another goal by Coffin with just 55 seconds left, it looked like CMS would take this one in regulation.  However, after CMS committed a foul with 20 seconds left Valdivia scored on a free position shot with just 18 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Overtime was all CMS as Coffin scored two goals and Lauren Clubb scored one to give CMS the 17-14 win over New Paltz.

 The Athenas offense was well balanced as 10 different Athenas scored with Coffin leading all Athenas with four goals.  Alexa Vitale and Valdivia led the Hawks offense as they both scored four goals.

CMS next game is at home on Monday, March 16 at 7 p.m. as they take on Kean College.

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