The Malone University women's soccer team registered a thrilling 4-3 victory in double-overtime on the road against non-conference opponent St. Thomas Aquinas College (NY) on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The result marked the second double-overtime win of the young season for the Pioneers and the scenario for victory on Tuesday was quite similar to their September 5th triumph against Davis & Elkins College.  Once again it was a goal by junior Christine Najjar that knotted the score in the final minutes of regulation.  And just like the matchup against DEC, it was junior Brianna Smith who delivered the golden goal on Tuesday night, firing in a shot from close range.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the contest before the Spartans stormed back, claiming a 3-2 lead with three second-half goals.
 
Within the first five minutes of the game, Pioneer midfielder Corrin Hayberg took the corner kick and directed  the ball to defender Kaela Kovanda who then shot it to the back of the net,  giving Malone the early 1-0 lead.  
 
Seven minutes later, Smith collected a pass from Najjar, dribbled through the defense and shot from the left top of the box to collect her second goal of the season .
 
Two minutes into the second half, the Spartans scored their first goal of the game to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
The hosts would strike again in the 70th minute to tie the game at 2-2 and then scored once more with just five minutes left in regulation to make it a 3-2 contest and to take their first lead of the game.
 
A minute later, the Pioneers found the equalizer as Smith would pass to Najjar, who fired a shot from the left side, tying the game once more with just over three minutes left on the clock
 
Neither team would produce a shot in the final three minutes of the game, which then sent both teams into overtime.
 
It wouldn't be until the 109th minute when Hayberg took the corner kick and found Smith, who blasted the shot into the goal to lift Malone to the dramatic 4-3 victory.
 
The Pioneers will return home to host Lake Erie College on Friday, September 18^th at 4:00 p.m. in their first conference game of the season.
 
Game Notes:
-Malone held a 16-9 advantage in shot attempts
-Hayberg recorded her first two assists of the season on Tuesday afternoon
-Smith and Najjar now both have three goals and one assist (seven points) on the season
-Goalie Leah Rauscher tallied three saves on the day