WOMEN’S SOCCER

The HU women’s soccer team got their first result in league play, a 2-2 draw after a pair of OTs, against Mount Vernon Saturday afternoon at King Stadium. Today’s match was the Foresters’ second straight overtime contest, their fifth this fall.

Huntington came out as the aggressors to find back netting within the opening five minutes when Courtney McKown juked a defender just outside the box and lasered a shot far post for a quick 1-0 advantage. It’s the second consecutive game the senior forward has scored in.

HU’s lead carried into halftime but the break served the guests well as they came out all hands on deck to knot things up in the 61st minute. Seven minutes later they cracked their hosts’ defense again with a go ahead goal with just over twenty minutes remaining.

Lewis’ crew remained poised, and it paid off with nine minutes remaining in regulation. The equalizer came by way of a one-touch finish by Ashtyn Patrick who scorched back netting after chasing down a beautifully placed through ball by Avery Giguere.

Both teams fired off a shot in the final minutes of regulation to no avail as the defensive intensity ratcheted up and carried into both extra sessions that saw only two shots taken, both at the foot of Huntington.

When all the dust settled, MVNU (5-4-1, 2-0-1) piled up 32 shots, 20 on frame, to Huntington’s five. While shot totals were one-sided, the final score didn’t reflect that imbalance as the Foresters were able to stave off their visitors for the tie through 110 minutes of play.

“Our team loves to play soccer and we stay on the pitch as long as we can,” said Coach David Lewis. “We weren’t at our best today, but we picked up an important point in the league standings. Down the stretch, the team gave it their all and I’m proud of them.”

The stalemate moves Huntington to 3-4-3 overall which includes a 2-0-1 record in league play. The Foresters have a break through the week before picking back up on Saturday with a road match at Grace under the lights at 7:00 p.m.