CLEVELAND – Devin Newman’s golden goal five minutes into the overtime lifted the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers to a 2-1 victory over the Delta State Lady Statesmen on Sunday.
Newman was in the right place at the right time as teammate Stephanie Patterson fired a long, arcing shot from 30 yards out that hit the cross bar and landed right at the feet of Newman, who deposited the shot in the bottom left-hand corner past a sprawling
Sam Le Jeune.
The Lady Chargers (8-6) improved to 3-3 in the Gulf South Conference with the victory. The Lady Statesmen (2-10) remained at the bottom of the conference table with a winless 0-6 record after dropping their ninth consecutive match.
Though the Lady Chargers dominated the time of possession and played the majority of the in the Delta State half of the field, the Lady Statesmen were finally able to net an equalizer in the 62nd minute when
Mikael Mendez well-placed through ball from
Angela Palazzolo and deposited a shot in the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
The goal was Mendez’ team-leading fourth tally of the season.
Delta State had momentum on its side after the Mendez strike. The Lady Statesmen, who usually play very defensively, went on several counterattacks that produced several scoring chances.
The Lady Statesmen had an opportunity to take the lead in the 80th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick, but Mendez hit the left post in her attempt at a second tally.
Momentum swung back into the Lady Chargers’ favor at the end of regulation time when a red card was issued for a violent tackle of an opposing player in the final seconds of the second half. The Lady Statesmen were forced to play with 10 players in the overtime session.
Le Jeune again took the hard-luck loss despite a brilliant performance in which she recorded 19 saves.
The victory by the Lady Chargers put a damper on Senior Day as the Lady Statesmen were honoring their three graduating seniors – Mendez,
Renee Melson and
Melissa Webber. Melson and Webber both joined the team as freshmen in 2006. Webber did not see any playing time in 2009 as a result of an injury before the season.
The Lady Statesmen conclude the 2009 season when they travel to Florence, Ala. to face the Lady Lions of North Alabama on Wednesday. Match time is set for 7 p.m.