COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's soccer team couldn't have picked a better way to score its first Centennial Conference victory.
Angela Gervasi's top-shelf blast just 30 seconds into overtime handed the Bears (4-4-2, 1-3) a scintillating come-from-behind triumph over Dickinson, which came in unblemished in league play. A long pass by sophomore Avery Webster to the edge of the box was batted around and settled at the feet of Gervasi, who turned and roofed one past the Red Devils keeper to send the Patterson Field faithful home happy with her first career goal.
Dickinson (6-2-2, 2-1-1) grabbed an early lead on a brilliant strike from Ally Diez, who collected a back pass from Addy Zandi at the top of the box and ripped a right-footed shot past diving Ursinus goalie Sabrina Doherty and into the bottom left corner of the net.
Neither team produced much in the way of chances over the nearly 40 minutes that remained in the first half after Diez' opener. The Bears' only shot of the frame came when sophomore Angela Gervasi rose and headed wide off a nice cross from Webster in the 16th minute.
Ursinus got right to work after intermission, breaking through when sophomore Zoe Tesone jumped to receive a corner from freshman Rachel Burcaw and headed home at the far post for the equalizer in the 54th minute. About a minute later, senior Mackenzie Groff got loose and sent in a shot that bounded just wide of the left post.
Both sides had opportunities to win it in regulation, and Dickinson played much of the latter stages of the half on the front foot. But Tesone and her counterparts in the defensive backfield kept Dickinson at bay, and Gervasi rewarded their efforts with a brilliant strike.
The Red Devils held a 13-6 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corners. Ursinus put only three shots on goal, but two of them found the back of the net.
Doherty finished with five saves for the Bears.
The Bears go for a second consecutive CC victory when they hit the Main Line to take on Haverford on Wednesday, October 3.