Extra time win for Robert Morris: Hayashi scores golden goal in 95th minute

Photo courtesy Robert Morris University athletics

from Robert Morris University report

Kaoru Hayashi’s overtime winner in the 95th minute secured the first victory of the season for the Robert Morris University women’s soccer team Saturday against Mount St. Mary’s, improving them to 1-1 on the year.

“We’re happy to get a win on the road.  It’s tough playing that second game after only one day of rest, but the players stepped up and got the job done. Pleased with the result.” Chris Shaw, Robert Morris’ Head Coach said.  

Freshman forward Emily Rocco also scored her first career NCAA goal for RMU in the win.

The Colonials put the Mountaineers under pressure right off the opening kickoff, earning a pair of good looks from Gabriella Lecuona and Sofie Lien Fagereng that just narrowly missed the target.

Another dangerous chance from Lecuona minutes later was saved off a nice effort from MSM keeper Arden Lembryk, however RMU soon capitalized off the pressure courtesy of another career first for the Colonials.

Two days after Haleigh Finale scored her first collegiate tally against UMBC, Rocco managed to track down a bouncing ball in the box before turning and firing a sharp-angle shot over Lembryk for her first Colonials goal, giving RMU a 1-0 lead just 14 minutes into the game.

Though they continued to apply pressure, the Mount slowly but surely responded with looks of their own, just narrowly missing tying things up at 1-1 off a dangerous volley into the box from a corner that struck the crossbar before being cleared off the line by a Colonial defender.

Eventually Mount broke through, however, leveling things in the 31′ off a broken play down the right wing that ended up with the ball squeaking between Isabella Bohlen and the near post after the initial save following what appeared to be contact in the box between several Colonials and Mountaineers.

Despite the momentum swing, the Colonials continued to press the Mount defense for a second goal as the second opened up.

Hayashi earned the first good look of the new half in the 55′ with a curling a free kick over the Mount wall, however Lembryk was in position to make the save.

Finale nearly put RMU ahead again in the 62′, finishing off a great run through the middle of the pitch with a shot that was again saved by Lembryk.

Bohlen came up big at the other end on a number of key stops as well, including a point-blank save on Madison Bee off the rush that would have given Mount the lead with under 15 minutes to play.

With both teams unable to score, the action continued into extra time.

After a number of close calls in regulation, Hayashi wasted no time ending things for RMU in the overtime period, capping off a strong day in the midfield with a brilliant sharp-angle shot from the box that went off the crossbar and in to lock up the first win of the season for RMU.

SCORING PLAYS 

13′ – Rocco, Assists: Hayashi

31 – Team Goal

95′ – Hayashi

QUICK HITS

Rocco recorded her first career NCAA goal…Hayashi recorded her first goal and assist of the season…Isabella Bohlen made five saves and earned her first win in goal…RMU enjoyed a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal…eight Colonials played all 95 minutes of game time…Lecuona led RMU with five total shots

UP NEXT

The Colonials close out their three-game road swing with a trip to Olean, New York for a showdown with St. Bonaventure on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.