STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Five goals in the second half and overtime created high drama at LaValle Stadium on Friday night, as Alyssa Francese headed home a Kerry Pearson free kick less than 90 seconds into the extra session, sending the Seawolves faithful into a frenzy and her club to a second consecutive win as the squad knocked off Cornell 4-3.

Pearson's long ball from midfield bounced once in the box and Francese was able to get her head to it, sending it over Cornell keeper Erica Fox to cap a wild night that saw the Seawolves take and lose the lead in the second half before scoring the final two of the night to win it.
 
Francese's second game-winner of the season gave the Seawolves their second win in as many tries in a three-game homestand. Extra time would not have been necessary if not for Mari Brenden, who lined up a shot from 30 yards out and sent it over the keeper and into the top corner, drawing a match that Cornell had jumped in front in less than two minutes earlier.
 
The half started well for Stony Brook, as Emma Beattie scored her first career goal after a cross from Catharina von Drigalski to give the hosts the lead with just over 25 minutes left. After Cornell scored a pair, Brenden would tie it and Francese won it for head coach Tobias Bischof's club. 

Chelsie DePonte started the scoring for the Seawolves just 3:21 into the contest, heading home a chip from Gabby Daniels off a corner.

STATS AND NOTES

• Francese and Pearson combined on the first game winner of the season at LaValle, a 1-0 win over Columbia on August 29. Alyssa finished tied for fifth during the 2019 season with seven deciding tallies.
• A Spring 2021 All-Rookie honoree, Beattie has recorded points in back to back games. They are the first of her career.
• With the assist, Rachael Peters found her way to the scoresheet for the first time since the 2019 campaign.
• von Drigalski has also recorded points in back to back contests, bringing her career total up to eight. She has six career assists after tonight.
• The Seawolves have now won 10 in a row at home, an active streak that is tied for fifth-longest in the country. They are 15-2 at home under Bischof.
• Brenden has now scored in all three of her seasons on campus, adding her first of the year in 2021. She has four career goals to her name.
• Also a Spring 2021 All-Rookie selection, Pearson has an assist in three separate games this season, besting her total of two during the spring campaign.
• With three players scoring their first goals of the season tonight, that brings the Seawolves total to seven different goalscorers.
• Eight different players have dished an assist on the year.

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"We showed a lot of heart tonight. It was great to see Chelsie and Alyssa score. Mari had a beauty of a goal and Emma worked super hard for hers. Overall we proved again that we are "One Team", that we are there for each other and that we pick each other up." - head coach Tobias Bischof

"I felt that as a team we didn't give up even though they scored late in the second half. We kept going and we had a lot of players up on offense. When I won the ball and got it under control I looked up and saw that the goalie came out so I just went after it and took the shot. It was such a good feeling and I'm just so happy and proud of the team being able to come back and win in overtime." - senior midfielder Mari Brenden

"We're super happy to get the win going into conference and to have so many people get on the board. We showed a lot of resilience for the entire game and it paid off. [On the winner], I just saw the ball float in and tried to get there and get on it. I was happy to make the most of the chance and give us a short OT period." - graduate forward Alyssa Francese


UP NEXT
Stony Brook welcomes rivals UAlbany for a Sunday matinee at LaValle Stadium. The kickoff to America East play is scheduled for 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public!

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