Box Score

It may be farfetched to conclude that the women's soccer season was 31 seconds from ending.

Yet that was arguably the situation Saturday afternoon as Albright faced off against crosstown-rival Alvernia University in a crucial Commonwealth Conference game. A defeat would saddle the Lady Lions with their second conference loss, leaving them on the outside looking in for a playoff berth and a tough home contest Sept. 18 against Messiah looming.

After a game that was scoreless despite a large shot advantage in favor of the Crusaders, Alvernia's Rachel Gimber put Albright's playoff hopes on life support in the 81st minute. Gimber cut across the center of the field and fired a shot into the top right hand corner that went off Albright goalie Olivia Giuliano's glove to make it 1-0.

Thankfully for Albright, junior midfielder Alee Gormley had other plans. In the final minute of regulation, Gormley chipped in a shot from outside of the goalie box into the right corner for the equalizer with 31 seconds left.

Neither team scored in either overtime period despite Alvernia outshooting Albright 6-0. For the contest, Albright was outshot 19-6, with Giuliano making nine saves in the tie.

Gormley's first career goal on Albright's six and final shot proved to be game-saver. 

Come November, it may just be a season-saver.