Lady Lions fall in extra time 2-1 to Bryant & Stratton
Hazleton, Pa. - Hazleton was back on their home turf Friday night as they resumed non-conference play with Bryant & Stratton College. Nearly 76 minutes of scoreless action paved the way for an exciting finish but in the end, Bryant & Stratton would edge out the Lady Lions in overtime by the score of 2-1.
Both squads had ample scoring opportunities on Friday night but quality defense and netminding dominated much of the game. As the game progressed into the second half, the Bobcats began to gain an edge with their volume of quality looks and in the 76 minute, a defensive breakdown by the Lady Lions led to a break in the stalemate by the Bobcat's Koemhong Hout. Confident from their efforts to that point, Hazleton continued to push forward and with just seven minutes to play, freshman Emma Wyllie (Benton, Pa.) broke away to tie the game. Wyllie capitalized on an errant Bobcat pass, streaking up the right side of the field. The freshman fired from the right side of the 18 off the keeper's hands, bouncing over the goal line and sending the game to extra time.
Unfortunately for the Lady Lions, extra time would be brief as the Bobcats struck for the game winner in just the second minute of overtime. Once again it was Hout inflicting the damage and in similar fashion as the Wyllie's game tying try. Sophomore keeper Devon Keiper (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) got her hands on Hout's shot attempt but was unable to direct the ball over the crossbar and the ball trickled past the line to end the Lion's evening.
Next up: It's back to back games on the pitch for Hazleton as they square off with SUNY Delhi on Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m. on the Penn State Hazleton campus.