Eagles Can’t Drown Dolphins in Scoreless Draw

Patchogue, N.Y. – The St. Joseph's Golden Eagles (10-5-1) did everything right on Tuesday night except put the ball past the Staten Island Dolphins (12-0-2) keeper Victoria Donegan. The Lady Eagles had 38 chances to hand the Dolphins their first loss but the 103 minutes of play was not enough as the teams settled for a 0-0 draw.

Despite nineteen saves on a spectacular night from the Dolphins keeper, the Eagles made it too easy on her. Donegan found herself one-on-one with a St. Joseph's attacker numerous times on the night, but the Golden Eagles kept putting the ball right into her arms.

Many of the Eagles best opportunities to score came early in the game. Jessica Cordano (Oakdale, N.Y./Connetquot) put a shot just wide, five minutes into the match. Cordano had another chance in the fourteenth minute but blasted a shot right at Donegan. The Eagles dominated the first half but went into halftime without an advantage. Those in attendance were sure that St. Joseph's would find a way to win in the second half.

The Eagles blasted 23 shots at Donegan in the second half but it became evident why the College of Staten Island was undefeated. The Dolphins keeper was a brick wall saving all twelve of the shots that threatened her goal in the half. Jaclyn Baratelli (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) drilled a free kick into the top left corner that Donegan deflected in the post. Jennifer Martino (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) thought she was about to put the Eagles in front but she could not beat Donegan once again. The combined 41 shots by the two teams would not be enough to produce a goal in regulation.

The teams were getting ready for overtime when Danzi Stadium went dark due to a lighting malfunction and play resumed about twenty minutes later. The Eagles fired five shots in the first overtime period only to hear the horn blow.  Both teams were fighting against the clock and the lights as three minutes and 37 seconds into the second overtime, play was halted due to a Town of Brookhaven curfew and the game ended in a scoreless draw.

The Eagles will take on the Bears of St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn in a battle of "East vs. West," on Saturday at 2 P.M.