Ibarra Scores Twice for Blue Soccer in 4-3 OT Setback at Coast Guard

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Wellesley College soccer rallied from a two-goal deficit but ultimately fell in overtime, 4-3, to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) on Saturday afternoon at Nitchman Field.

Sophomore Brielle Pearce (Jupiter, Fla.) scored a pair of goals in the game, including the game-winning goal 1:25 into overtime, to help the Bears improve to 5-6-0 on the season and 3-0-0 in conference play. The Blue drop to 4-6-overall (1-2-0 NEWMAC).

Pearce kicked off the scoring with a goal at 3:48 of the first half, scoring on an assist from senior Valerie Hines (Dracut, Mass.). Junior Kat Retz (Overland Park, Kan.) added the second goal for the Bears just 7:03 later to bring the score to 2-0 Bears.

The Blue fired back with the first of three unanswered goals at 23:25, as senior Deyanira Ibarra (Los Olivos, Calif.) scored her first of the game. Classmate Julia Jung (Oakland, Calif.) followed at 26:58, finishing on an assist from senior Kendall You Mak (San Francisco, Calif.) at 26:58 to tie the score at 2-2. Ibarra would later put the Blue ahead, scoring off a pass from first year Thea Feldgoise (Brookline, Mass.) to make the score 3-2 with just over ten minutes left before halftime. 

The Bears tied it up at 57:38 as a shot from sophomore Abby McGuire (Severna Park, Md.) found its way past Wellesley senior goalkeeper Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.). McGuire's goal was the only goal of the second half, forcing the game to overtime. Reckley finished the game with a career-high 14 saves on 18 shots on goal, as the Bears outshot the Blue 27-6. 

In overtime, Pearce sent the home crowd home happy, scoring her second of the afternoon to give Coast Guard the 4-3 final.

Both teams return to NEWMAC action on Tuesday October 8. Wellesley hosts Wheaton at 3:00 PM and Coast Guard travels to Mt. Holyoke for a 6:00PM start.