MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Centre Women's Soccer traveled to Rhodes on Friday with the goal of staying atop the SAA table and in the hunt for the regular season title. The back-and-forth tilt saw late dramatics as an 88th minute goal from
Aida Bell was the difference in a 3-2 Colonels win.
Centre controlled much of the first half as Rhodes needed time to get going.
Claire Mullen had an early try denied in the 3rd minute. Later in the 12th minute,
Zara McCarthy continued her brilliant campaign with her 9th goal of the season to give Centre an early lead. The teams traded possessions and positioning until the Centre lead doubled in the 30th minute. A ball into the Rhodes box deflected off a Lynx defender and went into the net for an own goal, giving Centre a 2-0 lead.
Savannah Mooney was denied a 3rd Colonel goal in the 37th minute as the lead stayed at 2 going to the second half.
Despite an early
Maggie Burke shot on goal, Rhodes took control for much of the second half. In the 52nd minute, the Lynx got a goal back to halve the Colonel lead.
Claire Cavacini tried for the counter just seconds later but was turned away. Rhodes kept pushing and would be rewarded with the match equalizer in the 65th minute. The Lynx went for the lead in the 72nd minute, but a critical save from
Madeline Redmon kept the Colonels in the hunt.
The defining moment came in the 88th minute. Centre pressed forward and earned its 4th and final corner of the game.
Aida Bell took the corner per usual. She struck a low liner that snuck inside a Lynx defender guarding the near post and drilled the side netting. The moment stunned everyone on the pitch and in attendance as no one was immediately sure what had happened. The goal proved true for Bell's 4th of the season to give Centre a stunning lead. Rhodes had two corners in the final 1:37 but could not muster a look on target as the Colonels escaped with the 3-2 win.
The win moved the Colonels to 6-0-1 in the regular season for 19 points. Centre remains equal with Trinity as both have no losses and the one draw. The Colonels look to close out an unbeaten SAA regular season on Sunday with an eye on the regular season title in a matchup at Millsaps starting at 12:00pm.
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