(Hackettstown, NJ) – If there is one thing Head Coach
Tony Elmore has instilled on the Mount Saint Vincent Women's Soccer team during his three-year tenure at the Dolphin helm, it's that in the face of any kind of adversity, hard work and determination is the great equalizer. On Wednesday, the Dolphins learned the lesson first hand perhaps more than they ever have before. A long bus ride did not deter the Mount. A steady rain-storm that made the field a virtual quagmire only seemed to push the Dolphins harder. And, a 27-4 shooting advantage by Centenary College meant absolutely nothing in the big picture as ultimately, it was the Dolphins' tenacity and determination that proved to be the order of the day during a 2-2 tie with the Cyclones that put Mount Saint Vincent front and center in the Skyline Conference playoff picture.
On Wednesday, the result was not about system, talent, or even strategy … it was about heart. And while the result was a tie and not a win, considering that Centenary had outscored Mount Saint Vincent 12-1 during the last two seasons, it was clear that Elmore and company treated Wednesday as a victory.
“This was by far the best effort we've had since I got here,” Elmore said. “We just worked and worked and willed our way to a tie. It was just an amazing game, and I think it puts us in great shape as we push for a playoff spot in the Skyline Conference.”
A great effort indeed. In fact, the first goal of the game was pure heart for the Dolphins (5-2-1, 2-2-1 Skyline Conference). A long ball by the Mount Saint Vincent midfield put Mount Saint Vincent forward Katherine Gentsch (Staten Island, NY/Curtis HS) in a position where she tried to outplay two Centenary defenders and their goalie for the ball. And while she never actually touched the ball, her tenacious pursuit forced a Centenary defender to actually kick the ball into her own goal for a 1-0 Mount Saint Vincent lead at 12:35. And as the game moved on, it was Gentsch's determination that loosened up the Cyclone defense and allowed the Dolphins to tie the game late.
Centenary (4-8-1, 2-0-1 Skyline Conference) tied the game at 34:59 after a beautiful goal by Tanya Di Donna. From there, Centenary looked to put the Mount away, but the Dolphin defense held despite a virtual onslaught by the Cyclone front line. Centenary outshot the Dolphins 10-1 during the first 45 minutes, and at one point enjoyed a 23-1 shots advantage, however, Dolphin goalie Alexis Alessi (Rockville Centre, NY/Oceanside HS) was her usual self on Wednesday … spectacular in goal. She made 13 saves for the game, nine of which came during the second half, and she was so close to a 14th save that the extra sessions would not have been necessary. Alessi made a spectacular diving save in the 49th minute that rebounded into the box and a desperate scramble ensued. Junior Cynthia Osorio (Oceanside, NY/Oceanside HS) dove into the goal to prevent a Cyclone tally, and actually made a save, but while prone on the ground, the ball hit her hand and gave Centenary a penalty kick. Cyclone midfielder Clare Johnson drilled a shot into the upper right hand corner that Alessi dove, got her entire hand on the ball, but did not quite get enough of it as it fluttered into the goal for a 2-1 Centenary lead at 49:03.
From there, Centenary tried to put Mount Saint Vincent away, but the Dolphin defense held every time, and as the minutes continued, Gentsch and company came perilously close to tying the score. With all eyes on Gentsch and junior Marie Garcia (Medford, MA/Medford HS), who's yeoman's effort nearly resulted in several breakaways for the Dolphins, freshman Jamie Longo (Concord, MA/Concord-Carlisle HS) found her way through the Centenary defense in the 81st minute and fired a shot that resulted in a save, but fellow freshman Kelly Curran (Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township HS) pounced on the rebound and scored her third goal of the season at 80:16 to tie the game 2-2.
Overtime featured sloppiness by both teams as the rain and darkness made conditions difficult. Centenary fired a point-blank shot wide early in the first overtime, and Alessi stopped their second shot. As the second overtime came to an end, one thing remained clear: Mount Saint Vincent is in the middle of a playoff hunt, and the next eight days will determine their post-season fate. On Saturday, the Mount hosts St. Joseph's (LI) at 12:00 p.m. at Westchester Community College for a game that has huge Skyline Conference post-season implications. From there, the Dolphins host the College of Staten Island and Saint Elizabeth for two huge Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) games on Monday and Thursday, respectively, next week. Friday, Oct. 20 will be showdown day for the Dolphins as the Mount travels to Farmingdale State for a game that could very well determine who goes to the Skyline Conference playoffs.
