Cochrane Late Heroics Lifts Women's Soccer Past Post University
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 6, 2014) – When senior MacKenzie Cochrane (Mission Viejo, Calif. /Fresno State University) subbed back into the game at the 75th minute, she made a prophecy for the final 15 minutes: "I am going to score a goal." She did just that, hitting the game-winner on a free kick with 20 seconds remaining to send the Mercy College women's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout victory over the Eagles of Post University on Saturday for a second consecutive shutout victory to start the season and clinch the Mercy Kickoff Classic.
The Mavericks improve to 2-0 overall, while the Eagles fall to 1-1.
An extremely humid day and early 10 a.m. start were major factors in the play as both teams stepped onto the field. Mercy looked to set the tempo early, taking three shots in the first 15 minutes, but failing to find the back of the net. The Eagles started to come alive and put pressure on the Mavericks defense. The final five final minutes saw Post get off two shots, with another called back due to offsides. The game remained scoreless at the intermission.
In the second half, Post looked to start fast and had two attempts on goal blocked by juniors Savannah Campana (Garden City Park, N.Y. / New Hyde Park Memorial) and Samantha Scovel (La Mirada, Calif. / La Mirada). The game was played very tight for the remainder, with both teams getting off several shots apiece.
The Eagles missed on a golden opportunity in the 84th minute, as junior Amanda McLean (Phoenix, Ariz. /Paradise Valley CC) cut off a through ball, which Post's Tessa Dunster wheeled back around on and rifled at the goal, but pulled it wide.
Mercy capitalized after junior Dawn Hickey (Bohemia, N.Y. / Connetquot) was fouled just outside the 18 yard box on the left side. This gave Cochrane a free kick opportunity, which she buried into the far right side of the net with just 20 seconds left on the clock.
For Mercy, junior Heidi Serna (West Covina, Calif. / South Hills) took six shots, including two on goal. Freshman Alyssa Iannuzzi (Massapequa Park, N.Y. / Massapequa) and junior Jessica DeLeon (Phoenix, Ariz. /Paradise Valley CC) both took two shots. Junior Nicole Augustine (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) played all 90 minutes, made four saves and notched her 11th career shutout win in goal.
Head Coach Jonathan Feinstein and the Mavericks return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 9, as they travel to Albany, N.Y. to face the No. 6 Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose at 5:30 p.m.
