Blue Soccer Rallies To Secure 2-2 Tie at Roger Williams

BRISTOL, R.I. – Wellesley College soccer rallied from a 2-0 first half deficit to tie Roger Williams University, 2-2, in non-conference play as part of United Soccer Coaches Play With Pride Week on Tuesday afternoon.

Roger Williams moves to 2-4-1 with the results. Wellesley is now 1-4-2 after playing their third overtime contest of the season.  

Wellesley wore rainbow laces throughout the match as part of Play With Pride week, a nationwide initiative from United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) to celebrate the contributions of LGBT players, coaches, support staff, referees and fans to the game of soccer.

Trailing 2-0, the Blue found a goal late in the first half to cut the deficit to one. Senior Melise Knowles (Diablo, Calif.) scored her second of the year, beating RWU goalkeeper Natalie O'Donovan (Quincy, Mass.) when the senior got caught off her line. The sides played 40+ scoreless minutes in the second before Wellesley junior Gabriela Portilla (West Windsor, N.J.) knotted the score at 2-2 at 85:37, finishing on a slick feed from sophomore Kendall You Mak (San Francisico, Calif.).

Roger Williams jumped to a 1-0 lead 6:33 into the game when senior Carly Quinn (Danielson, Conn.) scored her second goal of the season, corralling a chipped pass from sophomore Alli Santacrose (Burlington, Conn.) and firing into the Wellesley net. The Hawks doubled their advantage at 28:44, as senior Samantha Woznicki (Bristol, Conn.) stepped to the spot and fired a low penalty kick into the lower left corner of the net to make the score 2-0 before Wellesley rallied.

O'Donovan finished the game with three saves. Wellesley sophomore Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.) was perfect after the break and in overtime, recording a season-high eight saves in the contest. Roger Williams ended the game with a 19-12 edge in shots.

Wellesley returns home and to New England Women's & Men' Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Saturday, September 23, when they host Mount Holyoke at 1:00 PM. Roger Williams will play on the road at Emmanuel in their next contest on Thursday, September 21, at 7:00 PM.