Sophmore Keily Funk scored in the 96th minute to send the Canisius College women's soccer team to their first conference win of the season against Loyola in Baltimore, Md. Friday night. Tonight's victory gives the Golden Griffins its first win over the Greyhounds in program history.
"I'm so proud of how hard our girls played tonight, Canisius College head coach Jim Wendling said. "They never gave up and always believed in themselves, it was just an outstanding effort."
Canisius and Loyola played to 0-0 tie in the first half as the Greyhounds outshot the Griffs 12-4. However the Blue and Gold would draw first blood in the second half when junior Jenny Griffin scored her first goal of the season getting assists from junior Dina Gabrielli and freshman Brianna Smith. Smith would extend the Griffs lead to 2-0 in the 80th minute as she beat Loyola goalkeeper Didi Haracic on a shot into the right-hand corner of the net with assists going to junior Kelly Reinwald and Griffin. The Greyhounds wouldn't wait long to respond however as Gianna Mangione blasted a shot past goalkeeper Lesley Ivinac 57 seconds later. In the waning minutes of the second half Canisius would fall victim to an own goal as a Loyola pass would go off a Golden Griffin defender and into the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2. Funk would net the overtime game-winner to seal the Griffs' seventh victory of the season in the 97th minute of play.
"It was a great battle between the two sides," said Wendling. "We missed some opportunities but even when Loyola tied it up, our girls never stopped believing they could win."
With the win Canisius is now 4-0-0 in overtime games in 2010 and remain undefeated in the extra frame under Wendling going 7-0-6. Ivinac got the start in net tonight and made three saves allowing two goals to earn her sixth victory of the year. Aside from sparking the Canisius offense in the goal department Griffin led the team in shots with six on the evening.
The Griffs return to action on Sunday when they head to Lawrenceville, N.J. to face the Rider Broncs at 1 p.m.
Game Notes: With the victory Canisius is now 1-20-0 against Loyola in the series history... The Blue and Gold remain undefeated in overtime under Jim Wendling with a record of 7-0-6... The Griffs are now 13-8-2 against MAAC opponents in Wendling's time at Canisius... Kelly Reinwald continued her consecutive point streak as she has now recorded a point in seven-straight games, the longest such streak in her career.
