Box Score

Millersville, Pa. — Jenna Gould and Lindsay Wilson raced the Millersville women's soccer team out to a 2-0 halftime lead in its season-opening game, but three straight goals from Wilmington —the last of which came 1:20 into overtime— allowed the visitors to escape Chryst Field with a 3-2 non-conference victory on Thursday night.

Gould matched her goal total from her freshman year just 30 minutes into the contest, which was played under humid conditions. The sophomore forward took a Wilson pass and beat Widcats' keeper Amanda Walters with a shot that found the lower left corner of the net.

Wilson pocketed a goal herself less than three minutes before the half. A nice move to sidestep a defender got Wilson free and she made no mistake with the shot that made it 2-0 Marauders. Alison Silva picked up the assist on Wilson's first goal of the season. Millersville (0-1) controlled much of the play in the opening 45 minutes despite both teams having six shots.

A change in goal and some halftime adjustments to the offensive attack seemed to spark Wilmington (1-0) immediately. The Wildcats started to expand the field, attempting more than a few long passes. A few times they were able to catch the Marauders off guard.

The visitors would slice into the two-goal deficit at 53:08 when Molly Taylor got a pass on the left side of the box and put it into a wide open left side of the net. Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins would knot the game just over 22 minutes later when she collected a ball and roofed it over Millersville keeper Kelsey Benson.

Before the Marauders could get situated in overtime, Wilmington had stolen the game in odd fashion. Brittany Rhodes crossed a ball that Benson caught. Her body was outside of the goal, but when she turned to catch the sailing ball her hands crossed the goal line and the ball —though it never landed in the goal or hit the back of the net— was ruled a goal by the referee because it was caught over the line.

Wilmington held a 12-10 advantage in shots. The Wildcats' Rhodes and the Marauders' Olivia Taylor each took a game-high three shots. Brooke Eveler, who started the game on the Wilmington bench, earned the win in goal even though she did not have to make a save in just over 46 minutes of action.

Millersville will try to regroup on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Chestnut Hill at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. Game time is set for 2 p.m.