Women's College Soccer
Rider University 3, Howard University 2 OT
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Lucky13. The Broncs played their 13th overtime game under fourth-year head coach Drayson Hounsome and for the first time came away with a win. "We practice overtime but I don't think we've had an overtime win," Hounsome said, "so this is important."
Junior Abi Cottam (Leominster, England/Ludlow) scored 7:52 into overtime, her second goal of the game, to lead Rider to a come-from-behind win at Howard Tuesday night. "Abi got us out of trouble tonight," Hounsome said. "We were in a 2-0 hole with 25 minutes to go but the team showed great character to come back."
Rider (3-2-1) trailed 2-0 before Cottam scored with just 7:41 left in the game, cutting the lead to 2-1. "That goal allowed us to rally," Hounsome said.
"We were all thinking this is not over yet," Cottam said about trailing 2-0 with 10 minutes left. "We knew we had to fight to the very end. We worked as hard as we could and hoped something positive would come out of it."
It did.
Cottam took a pass from junior Meghan Mohr (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem) and scored to get Rider on the board. "The turf was wet so when I shot it skipped right under the 'keeper," Cottam said.
Junior Demi Mello (Mattituck, N.Y./Mattituck) took a pass from Cottam and scored the tying goal with just 2:41 left in regulation to tie the score at 2-2. "Demi scored the equalizer on a nice pass from Abi,"' Hounsome said.
"I ran down the left wing and passed it and Demi played it perfectly in the left corner," Cottam remembered.
Rider entered the game 0-5-7 in overtime games under Coach Hounsome.
"In overtime I just hit it with my left foot as hard as I could and it went in," Cottam said. "It was as much relief as happiness when we won because we worked so hard and I felt we deserved the win."
Cottam now has 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points in 32 career games.
Rider out-shot Howard (0-4-1) 15-5, including 9-1 in the scoreless first half. "We controlled the first half," Hounsome said, "but to start the second half we had a bit of confusion in the back and they capitalized on it."
Rider freshman goalkeeper Danielle Singson (Deer Park, NY/St. Anthony's) started the game and played the first half. After Howard's Jordan Brown scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the second half Singson came back into the game, playing 75 of the 98 minutes, making one save. "They had one player (Brown) who was dangerous and scored almost identical goals," Hounsome said.
The game at Howard was originally scheduled for August 28 but was postponed due to Hurricane Irene.
This was the fourth meeting between Rider and Howard, with the Broncs winning the first two before losing the last meeting 2-1 in 2001.
Rider hosts Wagner Sunday, September 11 at 12 noon. "It will be good to get home," Hounsome said after five consecutive road games. "This was our third game in six days but after a long bus ride they responded well tonight."
Rider plays its next five games at home. "We're very excited about that," Cottam said. "It's about time we had another home game. Hopefully we'll get a win then as well."
Even if it is overtime.
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