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Women's Soccer Ties Rhode Island 1-1
Aug. 31, 2008
ORONO, Maine--The University of Maine women's soccer team tied the University of Rhode Island 1-1 in a physical contest that went to double overtime at Alumni Field on Sunday afternnon. The Black Bears went to 1-0-2 while Rhode Island went to 0-2-1. Carolyne Nellis (Quebec City, Quebec) had the Maine goal off an assist from Kim Stephenson (Hampden, Maine). The first half saw limited scoring chances as both teams played tough defense. However, the Black Bears nearly took the lead when Alli Krous (Yakima, Wash.) gathered a rebound about 25 yards out. She chipped it, and the Rhode Island keeper just got a fingertip on it to deflect it to a defender. Rhode Island also had a quality scoring chnace as forward Erese Fair (had a shot all alone on Maine keeper Jasmine Phillips (Nepean, Ontario). Phillips did not flinch and Fair shot the ball hard into Phillips. In the second half, the Black Bears dominated possession and looked like they could take the lead at any moment. However, Rhode Island caught a break off a defelected ball when Rams forward Alexis Veith (Burlington, Conn.) ended up with the ball 30 yeards from the Black Bear net with Maine defenders a few yards off. She crossed it, and was able to connect with Kassandra Spitler (Montoursville, Pa.) who settled the ball and hit it on one bounce. The ball was just out of reach to Phillips' left and went into the net with about 15 minutes left in regulation. The Black Bears fought back, and finally broke through with 10 mnutes to go. Black Bear senior captain Stephenson hit a beautiful corner kick that an aggressive Nellis headed into the lower right corner for the first goal of her collegiate career. The two teams battled through two overtimes, but no one could put another one in the net.
For the game, Maine was out shot 11-9. However, the Black Bears held the edge in the second half and overtime by a 7-4 margin. Phillips ended up with four saves for Maine while Rhode Island keeper Jackie Fede (Cheshire, Conn.) ended up with seven saves. The Black Bears return to action on Friday when they travel to take on Temple at 3 p.m.
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