EDINBORO, Pa. - Senior
Mahogany Willis scored the game-winning goal seven minutes into the overtime period as IUP women's soccer completed a 4-3 comeback road win over Edinboro Wednesday night at Sox Harrison Stadium.
The deciding score capped a hat trick for Willis as she scored in the 43rd, 65th, and 98th minutes. It was her eighth career multi-goal game and her second career hat trick. Willis is the first IUP player since Sarah Romasco (2006-09) to record more than two hat tricks in a career.
It was the third straight win for the Crimson Hawks, who improved to 7-3-1 overall and moved into a tie with Mercyhurst for third place in the PSAC West with 19 points in the standings at 6-3-1. IUP jumped over Edinboro with the win as the Fighting Scots are now 7-4 overall and 6-3 (18 points) in the division.
IUP found itself trailing 2-0 with time ticking away in the opening half until
Hannah Scardina put the Crimson Hawks on the board in the 43rd minute. She took advantage of an Edinboro mistake in its own box and scored on a penalty kick, connecting to the lower right corner. It didn't take long for IUP to bring the match back to even, as Willis scored her first of the night from long range just 35 seconds later.
Willis put IUP on top 3-2 in the 65th minute but Edinboro came back to tie the game in the 77th. The Hawks had chances to win in regulation but shots by Willis in the 78th and Scardina in the 90th did not connect.
After IUP goalie
Samantha Gildner made a save of Edinboro's only OT chance, Willis took a centering pass from Samantha Nemeth and broke free down the middle of the field, beating the Edinboro goalie to the left from 15 yards out to clinch the victory.
Up next
The Crimson Hawks are off this weekend but return to action next Wednesday at home against Gannon. IUP currently trails the Lady Knights by one point in the PSAC West standings as Gannon holds a 6-2-2 division record.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's soccer on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPsoccer.
