Denis Gostev

Women's Soccer

Staten Island Upsets Lehman for Women's Soccer Championship in Overtime

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Women’s Championship

#2 Staten Island 2, #1 Lehman Lightning 1 - Box Score

It took more than 90 minutes of play and a golden goal by senior Samantha Wysokowski, but the Staten Island Dolphins persevered and beat top-seeded Lehman Lightning 2-1 to capture the 2015 CUNYAC/MCU Women’s Soccer Championship at Brooklyn College.  It was the Dolphins' fourth straight attempt for a title and an automatic trip to the NCAAs and Wysokowski did not want her team to be denied yet again.

"There are no words," said an ecstatic Wysokowski postgame.  "It's been a battle from day one and I am so proud of this team.  I don't know how I scored the goal.  I just know I wanted it so I just went to get it and I put it through the net."

The goal for Wysokowski, who missed all of the 2014 season due to injury, was her 15th of the season and her sixth game-winner.  It was a sweet one for the senior who also won a CUNYAC title as a freshman in 2011, playing as the game-winning goalkeeper in a 0-0, 4-2 penalty kick win over John Jay that year.

CSI faced an uphill climb against Lehman and league MVP Chelsea Harris.  The Lightning had ripped through John Jay College in its semifinal tilt, 5-0, and put a stop during the regular season to what was CSI's 28-game unbeaten CUNYAC regular season streak, defeating the Dolphins with a heavy hand, 5-1.

To start the game, LC was firing on all cylinders, earning a pair of chances via corner kick and testing CSI keeper Kristy Colangelo. After weathering an early wave of attacks, CSI then mounted the offensive.  Kathryn Dowling registered CSI's first shot, and four minutes later CSI struck gold.  A Stephanie Rivera pass from the midfield found Danielle Alexandrini in the box, and the game-winning goal-scorer in the semifinal vs. Brooklyn, slotted one home from 10 yards out past Lehman keeper Stephanie Gonzalez to give CSI a 1-0 lead just 17:27 into the game.

The goal sent the CSI contingent into hysterics, and the Dolphins continued the momentum though with another set of shots, all the while holding the Lightning attack down.  But Lehman proved it would not need much of a window of opportunity to be dangerous.  Held without a shot for 23 minutes, the Lightning finally registered one at 33:34, and this time CUNYAC-leading scorer Harris left little doubt, powering in a goal to tie the score, from just inside the penalty box, off of a Pamela Sanchez feeder.  It was Harris' league-leading and school record-setting 26th goal of the season. Lehman would pepper the CSI goal with three more shots, but CSI's senior keeper was up to the challenge and the score moved to 1-1 at intermission.

In a hard-fought defensive showing in the second half, Lehman amped up the pressure, and built a lot of time in the CSI end.  The Dolphins meanwhile were held shot-less until a Lauren Smith attempt sailed high in the 68th minute.  Lehman was also held without a shot for a 22-minute stretch, but the unit put up a couple of shots in the closing moments, including a big scare when Harris put a shot wide with 16 ticks left in regulation.  With a guarded exhale, the game finalized at 1-1, and headed to overtime.

The five-minute break before the overtime seemed to charge the Dolphins, and to start the extra session the team that had totaled only one shot over the previous 62 minutes seemed to be the quicker and more dynamic team.  At 96:16, Wysokowski had a huge chance in front of goal, but missed wide on a streaking opportunity.  Then, exactly 2:10 later, Wysokowski fired wide again.  With the clock winding down, and seemingly headed for a second overtime, the senior capitalized on a scramble in front of goal.  Off of a feed from Krysta Percaccio, Wysokowski thundered in a shot past Gonzalez with just 23 seconds remaining to give CSI the 2-1 golden goal win. 

When asked about heading into the golden goal overtime period, Wysokowski simply stated that the only thought in her head was “I’m not losing.” She went on to talk about the pain of losing the last three Championship games and that this was her last chance to help her team and make an impact. She was crowned the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Staten Island Head Coach Giuseppe Pennetti was ecstatic about the game mentioning how “hard fought” of a win this was for his squad. The rookie coach now awaits the news of where his Dolphins will be headed this week for the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Story by Ty Conyers and CSI Sports Information.