Soccer Battles Back for 2-1 Win at Mount Ida

NEWTON, Mass. – University of Saint Joseph junior Patricia Nolan (Portland, Conn.) scored 4:48 into overtime to give the Blue Jays their second consecutive dramatic victory, this time, a 2-1 win Saturday over Mount Ida to open play in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference.

Nolan redirected a shot from Tiana Saraceno (Plainville, Conn.) just before the goal line and put the ball in the upper right corner of the net to score the golden goal. The score was the 32rd for Nolan in her career, her 10th game-winner and third overtime goal.

The Blue Jays were coming off a 1-0 victory over Eastern Conn., one of the biggest wins in the 18-year history of the program. Saturday, Saint Joseph found itself facing an early deficit and battling from behind for most of the contest. Mount Ida's Sierra Legge put in a rebound to stake the Mustangs to a 1-0 lead after 9:38 of play.

That goal stood up for 78 minutes, but the Blue Jays got the equalizer with just 2:23 remaining in regulation. USJ sophomore midfielder Dayna Gambino (Newington, Conn.) took a feed from Saraceno and fired a shot from the right side of the box that found the upper right corner of the net.

Saint Joseph freshman Melissa Dodge (Watertown, Conn.) made six saves to help preserve the victory in her first collegiate action. Saint Joseph outshot Mount Ida, 13-12 with Mount Ida putting seven shots on goal to six for USJ.

The Blue Jays improve to 2-1 overall and Mount Ida is 1-1.

Saint Joseph next plays at Bay Path, Mon. Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m.