Double Overtime Goal Leads the Lakers to the Championship Game

CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. - In one of the best matches ever played in the Laker multi-use turf facility, the Lakers would come away with a victory in the closing minutes of a double-overtime contest against the visiting Herkimer County Community College Generals. The two teams would battle for a spot in the NJCAA Region III, Division A championship game at Genesee Community College on Saturday, October 29th, with the Lakers coming out on top.

The Generals, who the Lakers had defeated earlier in the season, 4-0, continued to improve throughout the year, proving to be a true threat to the Laker's championship aspirations. The Generals were fueled by strong goalie play by sophomore Kurstin Gay. The opposition came out strong, scoring early in the 18th minute of the match to take a 1-0 lead. However, a costly General foul in the box set the Lakers up for a penalty kick, which Freshman Ella Lewis (Lyndonville, N.Y./ Lyndonville) took, and converted to tie the game 1 apiece. 

The two teams would battle back and forth before the Generals would tack on their second goal before the break to take a 2-1 advantage into the half. The Lakers regrouped and came out for the second half determined to come away with a win in their final home match of the season. A Generals foul outside of the box set the Lakers up for a free kick, which sophomore Allie Bowe (Victor, N.Y./ Victor) would precisely place into the top left corner of the goal to bring the score to 2 apiece.

The two teams would pick up several scoring opportunities late in the second half, but neither was able to convert; sending the match to overtime. The Lakers would pick up two shots on goal in the first overtime, to the Generals one, but strong saves by Kurstin Gay and Lakers sophomore goalie Grace Hall (Honeoye, N.Y./ Honeoye) forced the contest to a second 10-minute overtime. After 108 minutes of play, sophomore Allie Bowe would give teammate Ella Lewis a perfectly placed ball, which Lewis was able to squeeze past the General's goalie for the golden goal to send the Lakers to the championship game at Genesee Community College. This will be the Lakers first appearance in the championship game since the 2016 season when Lindsay Lovett scored the lone goal and helped the team advance in a 1-0 victory over Hudson Valley Community College.

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Sophomore Grace Hall played an integral part in the Laker's win, thwarting several scoring opportunities by the Generals; Hall would finish the match with 12 saves. Now, the Lakers will travel to Genesee Community College on Saturday, October 29th for a matchup with #1 seeded Mohawk Valley Community College at a time to be determined.

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