McDonald's golden goal beats Sage in final seconds of double overtime

Dylan McDonald scored the game-winner with 25 seconds left in the second overtime.

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - It was an odd game from the start. So it was fitting that it ended in a most unusual way.

The Bard College women's soccer team edged Sage, 2-1, when Dylan McDonald scored with 25 seconds left in the second overtime on Tuesday night. It was Bard's first overtime victory since 2014.

Sage (6-5) carried play and produced more shots in the first half, but Bard scored, so it was 1-0 at halftime. And Bard (7-4) carried play and produced more shots in the second half, but Sage scored, so it was 1-1 at the end of regulation.

Both teams had chances in both overtimes. Both teams were exhausted at the end. But one team came out on top.

Sage started the game pressing high and controlling the ball at midfield, and the Gators were in
charge early. But they made one mistake and it cost them. In the 34th minute, Caroline Gluck played a long ball down the right wing to Avalon Qian, and Qian feathered a poor angle shot off the far post and in. It was the same mistake Clarkson made in a tie game on Saturday, when Gluck and Qian combined on a similar play, and Bard won, 2-1.

Shots were 9-6 in favor of Sage at halftime, and corners were 2-2.

Bard came out assertively in the second half and took charge. But one tremendous shot by Sage tied the game in the 67th minute. Samantha Trimblett (Monroe, NY) turned with a pass at the top of the box, took a quick step to her right and blasted a shot past Kelsey O'Brien into the upper far corner to knot the game.

With the game suddenly tied, the intensity picked up on both sides and offensive chances became more frequent. Gluck missed high from close range in the 84th minute.

In the first overtime, a good opportunity for Sage's Jordyn Logan (Canajoharie, NY) was blocked, and Qian had a header off a corner go just over the crossbar on the other end.

In the second overtime, Sage produced two shots and two corners before the final minute heroics. With about 40 seconds left on the clock, Qian chested down a throw-in from Gluck at the side of the penalty area and turned to pass to the middle. McDonald slowed it with one touch as she moved to her left, and she struck a lefty shot that Cassy Robitaille (Amsterdam, NY) got a hand on but could not keep out, and Bard celebrated.

Bard outshot Sage 18-14 in the game and corners were 5-5.

Up next for the Raptors is a most unusual couple of games. On Saturday, Bard will travel to face top-ranked William College in a non-league game. The Raptors next game after that one - on Friday, Oct. 14 - is against second-ranked William Smith College in a Liberty League game.

That will offer time to find out the last time a women's college soccer team played consecutive games against the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.

Follow the Williams game live right here on Saturday.

Recap, photo courtesy of Bard.