DeLAND—Stetson's Sarah Collins scored twice – including the game-winner in overtime – as the Hatters opened up Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 2-1 victory against Jacksonville, Saturday at the Athletic Training Center.
Collins scored the tying goal in the 88th minute, then connected on the winning shot almost exactly 10 minutes later to send the Hatters (6-4-0 overall, 1-0-0 A-Sun) to their first win against the Dolphins (2-6-1, 0-1-0) since 2008.
Stetson and JU each pounded the other's goal all night, with the teams combining for 43 shots. Collins took a career-high eight shots and was denied three times from inside 10 yards before she broke through, with both goals coming from long distance.
The Dolphins led 1-0 when Marie Weckhurst scored from the right side of the goal box in the 52nd minute. Stetson continued to fire away before Collins knotted the contest.
Collins took a throw-in from Meredith Sinak, dribbled once, and fired a missile into the upper 90 from 30 yards away. Jacksonville keeper Sara Wicks barely had time to react and the Hatters tied the game with just under three minutes left in regulation.
In the first overtime period, Collins picked up a loose ball near midfield, dribbled around a pair of defenders and shot from just outside the top of the box, beating Wicks again and setting off a wild celebration at the ATC.
The goal came on the heels of a spectacular play by Stetson keeper Kahri Smith, who moments earlier reached up to the crossbar to deflect what appeared to be a game-ending goal by the Dolphins.
Smith made five saves for Stetson, while Wicks stopped seven shots for JU.
Quoting Head Coach Manoj Khettry
“I thought it was a pretty even match. I thought we came out a little tense and a little flat, but we found a way to win. In conference play sometimes you have to grind out wins. We felt like if we could get seven or more shots on-goal we'd have a great chance to win and, sure enough, we did.”
Notes
Saturday was the third time this season the Hatters have had 20 or more shots in a game … Collins enjoyed the first multi-goal game of her career and the second by a Hatter this season (Adrianna Suarez vs. College of Charleston) … Collins now has seven career goals, including four this season … Stetson's last three victories have come by a 2-1 score … Smith has made five or more saves five times this season … the assist was the first of the year for Meredith Sinak.
Up Next
The Hatters continue A-Sun play when they visit North Florida, 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2.
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