The game turned in a matter of moments and it was Ashley Kroll that sent the Wilmington University women's soccer team to a 2-1 overtime victory over Georgian Court, but more importantly, into the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
After a calm 80 minutes of action in the regular season finale, the Lions (10-5-3, 7-4-1 CACC) struck first in the 83rd minute. But the Wildcats (6-11, 6-6 CACC) turned on the jets and quickly tied the match in the 85th minute.
Kroll's heroics came just 3:20 into the overtime period, as it was the only shot of the extra period. With a substitute waiting to check into the game for Kroll, she received a long through ball pass from Chelsea Grace just after she crossed midfield.
Kroll flew past the defense line and was in alone on the keep as she crossed into the penalty box, just left of the goal frame. Using her off foot, she put a ball over the charging Lion goalkeeper Casey O'Connor and into the back of the net. The only thing that was next was waiting for her teammates to meet her all the way across the field for the dog-pile.
The goal and the win give the Wildcats 18 points in the CACC and keeps them in seventh place. Goldey-Beacom, who also won today, slides into eighth place with 16 points, one point ahead of Dominican. Goldey-Beacom and Dominican play on Friday to determine the final CACC Tournament team and seeding.
The scoring started in the 83rd minute as the Lions countered off a six-yard kick from the Wildcats. Morgan Peacock got on the end of the Julia Brown six-yarder, playing a ball to Elizabeth Kroon in the middle of the field.
Kroon launched a ball from 25 yards out that snuck over Brown and into the corner of the net for the 1-0 lead 82:57 into the match.
The Wildcats battled back and tied the match on their next shot as Kroll found a wide-open Loran Wyrough in the middle of the six-yard box in the 85th minute. Wyrough scored her ninth goal of the season to tie the game 84:46 into the match.
The Wildcats were outshot, 20-8, for the match, but six of their eight shots were on frame. Georgian Court also earned more corners, 8-1, than the Wildcats.
Brown recorded eight saves for the Wildcats while O'Connor stopped four shots for the Lions.
The women's CACC Tournament Quarterfinal is set for Monday afternoon but the place is yet to be determined. The Wildcats could either be seeded seventh or eighth in the Tournament, depending on the outcome of Goldey-Beacom and Dominican's contest on Friday.