Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Stetson women's soccer team fell to 1-5 on the season with its fifth straight loss on Friday afternoon, suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime defeat to Chattanooga (3-1-1) to open the Under Armour Border Classic, hosted by Gardner-Webb. Freshman midfielder Alex Stanojev (Gainesville, Fla.) scored her first career goal for the Hatters.
Stetson looked well on its way to success when it opened an early 2-0 lead. Freshman forward Katie O'Kennedy (Oviedo, Fla.) got the Hatters on the scoreboard in the 10th minute with a breakaway unassisted goal. 19 minutes later it was Stanojev scoring her first career goal off an eight-yard cross from O'Kennedy to make it 2-0 Hatters.
Chattanooga began its comeback with a goal in the 38th minute of the first half as Kelly Crew found Donna Ray Henry, who in turn passed the ball to a wide open in the box Crystal Mackezyk for the Mocs goal.
The Hatters still had the advantage with 10 minutes left in regulation; that would prove to be false hope, however, as Becca Smith blasted a 25-yard shot in the 81st minute that took an unlucky bounce off the right post and past senior goalkeeper Grace Turner (Fort Myers, Fla.).
The match proceeded to overtime, Stetson's first trip to bonus soccer this season, where disaster would strike with just one minute left before the end of the first extra session. Turner was called for a foul on a Chattanooga breakaway inside the area - an automatic red card was assessed due to the foul erasing a clear scoring chance.
Head Coach Julie Orlowski summoned sophomore Laura Seletos (New Port Richey, Fla.) off the bench to defend the ensuing penalty kick but Smith slammed it home for the Chattanooga victory. Turner made seven saves on the night for the Hatters.
Stetson completes play at the Border Classic at 2:00 pm Sunday when it locks up with tournament host Gardner-Webb. A link to Live Stats is available at GoHatters.com.
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