A mere 14 seconds after allowing the first goal of the game, Roberts Wesleyan freshman and Churchville-Chili grad Bella Mitrevski assisted on the tying goal and former high school teammate Ellie Swan added the game-winner in the second half as the Redhawks defeated Lock Haven 2-1 in women’s soccer.
The Eagles took advantage of a lackluster start by Roberts Wesleyan and scored when Madison Taylor took advantage of a mishit clear and found the open net in the 24th minute.
That seemed to wake up the Redhawks as Mitrevski and Brittany Houghton worked a three-pass give-and-go before Houghton scored her team-leading eighth goal and 24th point of the season to tie the game 1-1.
In the second half Roberts senior Anna Dominick centered a pass to the front of the net where Swan swept it across the goal-line for what became the game-winning goal.
“We were disappointed with our start; I think we were complacent and that was probably the best thing that happened to us is that they scored,” said first year head coach Bobby McColl. “Then we started to play and the second half was better.
“Brittany (Houghton) has scored a few goals for us this year and (the game-winner) wasn’t the nicest goal you’ll ever see, but they all count. Ellie (Swan) has not scored a goal for us in a while and it was good for her to get one.”
Roberts Wesleyan is ranked second in the East Region and ninth overall in the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association October 22nd poll and improved their home record this season to 8-1.
The Redhawks are in their final year of transitioning to Division II and are ineligible for the postseason in the East Coast Conference, but still have goals.
“Our goal was to establish ourselves in our conference this year – our second year in Division II – and, if we win out, we’ll finish second which is a good step forward.
“We’re happy with the progress of the team and hopefully we can carry it forward into the postseason of the National Christian Tournament and there is a good chance we can host a three-team tournament with one spot in the national tournament at stake.”
