LADY HAWKS FALL IN OVERTIME

Tuesday, October 21 - When the CSM women's soccer team meets Howard you can usually expect a tight soccer match, and today was no exception.  It took overtime to decide the winner, with Howard coming away with a 2-1 victory.

    Howard (12-2, 4-2) dominated play during much of the first half, out shooting the Hawks 8-2, but were unable to score as the half ended in a 0-0 tie. 

    Early in the half, CSM (6-6, 2-4) was called for an illegal pass back to the keeper, and the Dragons were awarded a free kick just inside the penalty box.  Kelly Hickman made an excellent stop off a hard shot to keep the game scoreless.  Howard had another excellent chance with 21:30 left when Maggie Angle's header went just over the crossbar off a corner kick

    The Hawks best chance came with 27:00 left when Anna Jean broke in on the left side and hit the side of the net with her shot.

    Kelly Hickman continued to keep CSM in the game during the second half, as the Hawks were again outshot 9-4.  Howard had two early chances when Hannah Bray shot just wide off a corner kick, and Kelly Hickman made a diving stop on a shot from the left side.

    With the game still scoreless, Melanie Tyner broke in on goal for the Hawks, but goalkeeper Sandy Bass was just able to get her fingertips on Tyner's header and keep the game scoreless with 23:00 left. 

    Howard got the first goal of the game when the Hawks were called for a hand ball in the box, and goalkeeper Sandy Bass took the penalty kick and beat Hickman to the lower left corner, with 17:20 left in the game. 

    The Hawks tied the game on their first shot of the half just six minutes later.  Melanie Tyner headed the ball to herself and broke down the left side.  She made a perfect pass to Tara Tomasello who found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1. 

    This rejunivated the Hawks, then dominated the last 10:00 of the game, out shooting Howard 3-0.  CSM had two great chances in the final 2:00 of regulation.  Tabitha Jett passed to Melanie Tyner and it was a footrace between Tyner and goalie Bass, with Bass just getting a piece of the ball to deflect it away.  With time running out, Rachel Freeze hit Jett on the right side, but her shot went just over the top of the goal.

    In overtime, each team had an excellent scoring chance.  Heather Reed hit Melanie Tyner on a long pass to the right side, but Tyner's shot from a tough angle went wide.

    Catherine McManon broke in on the right side for the Dragons, but Kelly Hickman came up with the big save on a point blank shot.

    With just seconds left in the first overtime, the Hawks inadvertently kicked the ball into their own net while attempting to clear, for the heartbreaking loss.

    The Lady Hawks will be off until the first week of November, when the begin Region XX Tournament play at Anne Arundel.