LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (September 17, 2008) – Lincoln University of Pennsylvania freshman Stephanie Anderson (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area HS) picked a great time to use her head. Anderson headed home the game winner off of a pass from Joy Floyd (Logan Twp., NJ/Kingsway Regional) in the 96th minute to lift Lincoln to a thrilling, 2-1, overtime victory over Penn State-Abington Wednesday afternoon. (BOXSCORE)
With the victory, Lincoln continues to add to an already blossoming memorable season. The Lady Lions improved to 3-3 overall. It is the first time in program history that the Lady Lions are at .500 this late in the season. Also, it was Lincoln's second consecutive victory. It's the first time since 2005 that Lincoln has won consecutive games. The Lady Lions are one victory away from tying the program record for most wins in a season.
“I was open and our coach (Francine Taylor) has been telling us to use our heads more on shots,” Anderson said of her game-winning goal. “I knew I couldn't my leg up to kick the ball so I did the next best thing. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.”
Lincoln also avenged last year's 7-1 loss to PSU-Abington. It was Anderson's team-leading ninth goal of the season. She is the reigning ECAC Division II Offensive Player of the Week. Floyd got her foot on the ball and popped the ball onto the waiting head of Anderson. Once Anderson's blast reached the back of the net, the Lincoln sideline exploded in celebration.
“I was trying to get the ball to one of the forwards,” Floyd said. “It was good to see Steph use her head because that's one of the skills we've been working on in practice. I believe we are doing really well right now and everybody is communicating with each other.”
Lincoln only fired nine shots on goal against PSU-Abington, who played with 11 players throughout the game. PSU-Abington had nine players on the field in overtime because it lost two players to injuries late in the second half. Despite playing shorthanded, PSU-Abington battled hard and had a golden opportunity to score in overtime.
Also turning in a strong effort for the Lady Lions was senior Stephanie Poole, senior Collene Cumberbatch (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway ), sophomore Shaynita Blanchard (Portmore, Jamaica/Archbishop Carroll), senior Tia Redden (New Castle, DE/St. Elizabeth's), junior Antonia Jones (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast) and freshman Brittany Johnson (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro). Senior keeper Tanina Cook (Landover, MD/Charles H. Flowers) was brilliant as usual in finishing with three saves.
Junior Adaeze Chikwem (Oxford, PA/Oxford Area) got Lincoln on the board first when she rifled a shot from the right wing into the lower left corner of the goal in the 51st minute. PSU-Abington tied the game in the 75th minute on a Samantha Leybman goal.
Lincoln finishes its home stand with a Sunday match against Columbia Union College beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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