Senior Ele Margelos Nets Game Winner in Second Overtime to Push GWU Past Francis Marion, 2-1, Sunday
September 01, 2013 | Women's Soccer
Orangeburg, S.C. - Ele Margelos scored the golden goal off a rebound from a Shelby Hooe shot attempt, and GWU's defense pitched a shutout in the final 90 minutes off the match to help the squad pick up its first win of the 2013 season, a 2-1 double overtime win over Francis Marion on the final day of South Carolina State's Bulldog/Sleep Inn Tournament.
Margelos (North Potomac, Md.) ended the match in favor of GWU (1-2-1) on a heads-up play after Hooe put a shot on frame that forced Patriot keeper Taylor O'Berry's save in the 108th minute. Off the keeper's save, Margelos located the ball and struck it into the back of the net to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 2-1 win on Sunday.
The goal marks the first of the season for Margelos.
Hooe (Mechanicsville, Va.) also had a hand in giving GWU the lead early. At the 4:00 minute mark of the first half, the sophomore striker found the back of the net off an assist from redshirt junior Meagan Reynolds.
A quick start offensively for Francis Marion (0-3-0) as well got the Patriots on the board in the 13th minute and eliminated the Runnin' Bulldogs' early lead. Chanel Harris found a through ball from defender Kristina Marra and fed fellow forward Elizabeth Asare, who scored on her first shot attempt of the match to tie the score at 1-1.
Both the Patriots' and Runnin' Bulldogs' defenses buckled down after the quick start, as neither squad could tack on another goal in the first half. GWU earned quality looks in the 30th minute, when defender Brooke Kelly's shot on goal forced O'Berry to make a save, as well as in the 31st minute, when a Tara Woelfel shot off Hooe's corner kick flew above the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Francis Marion nearly scored the go-ahead goal, but consecutive saves by Amy Schmitt off shots taken by Harris and Yasmin Bunter in the 56th minute kept the score knotted at 1-1.
Those two attempts would prove to be the Patriots' final shots on goal for the match, as the backline of Kelly, Addison Abee, Haley Ahrenholtz, Shaylyn Poppe, and others adjusted well in the second half in limiting goal-scoring opportunities.
GWU looked to net the go-ahead goal late with an aggressive attack from Meagan Reynolds in the 77th minute, but the shot attempt off an effective run sailed high. The Runnin' Bulldogs looked to push the ball forward again, but an 89th minute offsides call halted the GWU offense.
In the 95th minute, freshman Justine Ibarra nearly ended it when she put her shot attempt on frame, but O'Berry made the save to keep the Patriots alive.
Ashley Carmean helped GWU pressure the Patriots backline further with two shot attempts early in the second overtime. The sophomore first looked to score off Hooe's corner kick in the 102nd minute, but her scoring bid went wide. A minute later Carmean sent a header attempt on frame, but O'Berry stepped up to make the save.
After an offsides call on the Patriots gave GWU possession in the 107th minute, Hooe found sufficient space to put a shot on frame to set up Margelos' golden goal, securing her second assist of the season in helping the senior net the game-winner.
GWU was balanced offensively with six players registering a shot on goal. In addition to Hooe (one goal, one assist), Margelos (one goal), and Reynolds (one assist), GWU got key contributions from Carmean (two shots, one on goal), Ibarra (one SOG), Woelfel (two shots, one on goal), Kelly (one SOG), and Sydney David (one shot).
Schmitt (two saves) improved to 1-2-1 on the year in earning the win for the Runnin' Bulldogs. O'Berry (four saves) was saddled with her third loss of the year.
Gardner-Webb will look to build on its momentous win over Francis Marion next Sunday when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Wofford for a 2:00 p.m. match at Greene-Harbison Field.
###
| Box Score: GWU 2, FMU 1 (2 OT) |
