A perfectly placed pass and a textbook finish gave the Tompkins Cortland Community College women's soccer team a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 overtime win over Finger Lakes Community College Sunday. The win snapped a five-game skid for the Panthers and leaves their record at 2-6-2 overall, 2-6-1 in Region III, and 1-2-1 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes drops to 4-9 overall, 4-7 in Region III, and 3-3 in the MSAC.
Tompkins Cortland had a sizeable advantage in time of possession and shots, but it was Finger Lakes with the first two goals. The Lakers scored in the 12th minute of play and then made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. The Panthers trailed 2-0 at the half, the sixth time this season the team went to the break behind. On this day, though, the Panthers would respond.
In the fifth minute of the second half, the Panthers got on the board when Sage Garrison (Odessa/Odessa-Montour H.S.) fed Shannon DeRosa (Poughquag/Arlington H.S.) for the goal. The Panthers continued to apply pressure, finally knotting the score up with 8:14 left in regulation when Paris Good (Syracuse/Ithaca H.S.) stuck with a loose ball in the box after a corner kick, eventually knocking it in to tie the score at 2-2. Despite chances in the closing minutes, regulation ended with the score still at 2-2.
The hard work paid off in extra time. Kaylie Yerdon (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley H.S.) gathered a ball near midfield and threaded a beautiful pass up the middle of the field to a streaking DeRosa. With the Finger Lakes keeper coming out to challenge, DeRosa slid the ball into the corner of the net, ending the game with 2:58 left in overtime. It marked the second time this season DeRosa has scored twice in a game – the other time was in the win over Niagara County Community College back on September 5.
In Sunday's win, the Panthers outshot the Lakers 22-4 on the day, making it a relatively quiet afternoon for goalkeeper Katie Slocum (Candor/Candor H.S.). The sophomore had one save while playing the entire game in goal.
Tompkins Cortland hosts Cayuga Community College Thursday at 7:30 p.m.