PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Freshman Mallory Hromatko’s golden goal in the 97th minute shattered a 1-1 tie and gave UC Santa Barbara a 2-1 overtime win at Duquesne on Friday evening. The win extended the Gauchos’ win streak to three and unbeaten skein to four and the home team had just entered the top-10 in the Atlantic Region of the NSCAA rankings.
Hromatko’s blast came from the left side and went into the right corner of the goal. It was her third goal of the season and it gave her three goals and a pair of assists in the last three matches, all UCSB (3-2-1) victories. Duquesne fell to 4-2-0.
Hromatko’s heroics would not have been possible if not for a late game-tying Gaucho goal.
The host Dukes scored the first goal of the match in the 85th minute, taking a 1-0 lead, as Malea Fabean took a hopping pass and scored from the right corner of the box from about 10 yards out. The 1-0 Duquesne advantage was an anomaly because Santa Barbara dominated the match, but it positioned the home team for a win.
However, the Gauchos dug deep and responded. Dakota Griggs, who had two assists in the team’s Sunday win over Sacramento State, skipped a direct kick in front of the goal and Chace Schornstein pounced on it and knocked a shot past Kyra Murphy, tying the score at 1-1 with just 4:43 remaining in regulation, setting the stage for Hromatko’s game-winner
In the end, UCSB outshot Duquesne 16-3, including 5-1 on-frame. Gauchos’ goalkeeper Jacq Caginia earned her third consecutive win, but did not need a save to do so. The Gauchos also had nine corner kicks to four for the Dukes. Santa Barbara challenged, repeatedly, in the first half, but came away empty-handed.
UCSB will remain in Pennsylvania for a few more days, traveling to Loretto, Pa., to play St. Francis on Sunday in a match that will kick-off at 8am.
