COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Capital University women's soccer team came into Saturday night's game against Baldwin Wallace University with one goal in mind – to not lose. By securing a win or a tie, the Comets would clinch a share of the OAC Regular Season Championship.
Until the last minute of the match, it looked as though Baldwin Wallace would pull off the ultimate spoiler having scored two goals against the run of play in the first half. Those goals canceled out
Avery Hart's opener in the 19th minute and looked to be sending the Comets to their first OAC loss of the season and spoiling their attempt at hardware.
However, in the final minute,
Sophia Leonetti played the hero and poked home a scramble in the box to throw the Capital bench and crowd into a frenzy as the Comets secured a share of the OAC Regular Season Championship for the first time since 2015. The goal was assisted by
Avery Hart as her touch set up the ultimate poke home by Leonetti.
With the Comets' share of the OAC Regular Season Championship with Ohio Northern, Capital holds the tiebreaker over ONU for the tournament's No. 1 seed due to having a better result against a higher seeded team (Capital beat Otterbein, while ONU tied Otterbein).
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the 19th minute of play, Capital went ahead as
Avery Hart received a pass and then swiveled her hips and took on her defender. She cut to her right foot and with space unleashed a deflected shot past the BW goalie to put Cap ahead 1-0 early.
After the goal, Capital began to press more and had several chances to add to their lead, but Katie Scott made six first half saves to keep the Yellow Jackets hanging around.
In the 27th minute, the game would change as the Comets were whistled for a foul in the penalty area giving BW a penalty kick try – one that was converted by Ella Barth.
Again, against the run of play, the Yellow Jackets found themselves in front in the 41st minute as Sydney Rice took advantage of a slip by a Capital defender and hit a shot past
Lauren White to put BW ahead 2-1.
That score would hold through the second half despite an onslaught of Capital attempts on goal.
Baldwin Wallace thought they had pulled off the shock result and spoiled the night, but a final minute barrage said otherwise for Capital.
With 36 seconds left in the match, Capital's
Lexi Snider uncorked a rocket of shot that hit the crossbar. The rebound was knocked out for a corner kick by BW. On the ensuing corner kick,
Madeline Woodruff's service was knocked around about three times in the box as Capital desperately tried to stuff it home. Fortunately,
Avery Hart poked the ball through the awaiting
Sophia Leonetti who got a toe to the ball and shot it into the lower left corner of the net, sending Bernlohr Stadium into a frenzy. The goal was Leonetti's fourth of the week and her fourth courtesy of a corner kick this week alone.
THE NUMBERS
Capital out-shot BW by a margin of 23-6, which included a spread of 11-4 in shots on target. The second half alone, Capital held a 12-0 shot advantage.
Lauren White made two saves for Capital in the goal, giving her 148 for her career.
Avery Hart contributed a goal and an assist tonight, bringing her season point total to 28, thanks to 11 goals and six assists.
Sophia Leonetti netted her seventh goal of the season, giving her 14 points on the year. Four of her goals this season have come off of finishes on corner kicks.
SENIOR DAY
Prior to the match, Capital recognized the five seniors in the program this season as part of Senior Day festivities. Recognized were
Lauren White,
Madeline Woodruff,
Avery Hart,
Aaliyah Brletic and
Mia Gambaccini.
THE OPPONENT
BW's goals came from Sydney Rice and Ella Barth. Katie Scott made nine saves in the goal.
UP NEXT
Capital will now await an OAC Semifinal match on Thursday, November 3rd at home. The opponent is yet to be determined as Capital – being the No. 1 seed in the tournament – will host the lowest remaining seed come Thursday.
The other seeds are as follows – No. 2: Ohio Northern, No. 3: Otterbein, No. 4: John Carroll; No. 5: Mount Union; No. 6: Baldwin Wallace.
