Women's soccer wins homecoming game in double overtime
October 25, 2008

Amanda Gifford (10) beats Wesleyan's Marissa Trevisan (9) to the ball and pokes it past the foot of Wesleyan's Cora Lautze (2) for the game-winning goal. (Photo by Tom Leonard '78)

Gifford

Talcott

Vandeventer

Burns
LEWISTON, Maine -- First-year forward Amanda Gifford (Lee, Maine) scored the game-winning goal 41 seconds into the second overtime, sending Bates to a thrilling 2-1 Homecoming victory over Wesleyan University Saturday morning at Russell Street Field. 

Gifford's goal was off a rebounded shot that had hit the post by senior forward Jen Marino (Methuen, Mass.). The goal ended a fierce defensive battle that hadn't seen a score by either team for a span of nearly 50 minutes during the second half and overtime periods.

Bates (6-7 overall, 2-6 NESCAC) opened the scoring in the 29th minute as first-year midfielder Courtney Talcott (Millbury, Mass.) placed a ball inside the right post. She was assisted by first-year forward Alix Vandeventer (North Attleboro, Mass.).

Wesleyan (6-5-1 overall, 2-5-1 NESCAC) tied the game in the second half as senior forward Yuri Hoshino (Chicago, Ill.) scored an unassisted goal in the 51st minute. Both teams then engaged in a defensive struggle until Gifford's goal sent Bates to victory.

The Bobcats edged the Cardinals in game shots 28-22. Bates first-year goalie Annie Burns (Topsfield, Mass.) recorded 6 saves while her Wesleyan counterpart first-year goalie Clare Colton (Montclair, N.J.) had 5 saves. 

Bates will play its regular season finale at Colby next Friday at 3 p.m. A win or a tie against the Mules would clinch a return trip to the eight-team field of the NESCAC Championship.

STATS: Bates 2, Wesleyan 1

Bates players celebrate after Amanda Gifford's goal gave the Bobcats a 2-1 win in the second overtime against Wesleyan on Saturday. (Photo by Tom Leonard '78)