Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior defender
Kaitlyn Fletcher (Jacksonville, N.C.) posted the first goal of her WU career and assisted on the match-winner as the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 2-1 double overtime South Atlantic Conference victory over Newberry College Saturday night at Pride Park. Wingate is 4-3-1 overall and 2-2 in the SAC.
Bulldog freshman midfielder
Taylor Krakower (Wayne, N.J.) scored the golden goal in the 106th minute, thanks in large part to a beautiful cross by Fletcher. Krakower got open in the goal mouth to score her third goal of the season. Wingate outshot Newberry 30-9 with a 17-6 advantage in shots on goal.
Wingate tallied its first goal in the 43rd minute. After a well-placed pass from senior midfielder and 2015 Academic All-America® selection
Kaitlyn Brunworth (Littleton, Colo.), Fletcher outran the Wolves' defense for her first goal of the season as she put the ball over the shoulder of Newberry sophomore goalkeeper
Korina Martinez (San Antonio, Texas) from the right of the box. The Bulldogs took the 1-0 lead to the halftime locker room.
In the 88th minute, a free kick towards the box from senior defender
Marissa Reyna (Lompoc, Calif.) gave the Wolves' a chance at the equalizer, as a foul in the box was called on the Bulldog defense. Sophomore midfielder
Sara Silvestro (Valencia, Calif.) lined up for the penalty kick for Newberry.
Silvestro drilled a ball just above the outreached hands of Wingate junior goalkeeper
Alexis Jones (Midway Park, N.C.) to tie the game 1-1. Silvestro was one of three Wolves to attempt two shots. The Saturday goal was her first of the season.
Martinez had 15 saves in 106-plus minutes Saturday. She made a charging save on a shot by WU junior forward
Taylor Leyble (Jacksonville, N.C.) a few minutes into the second half. In the second overtime, Martinez made back-to-back saves on a header in the box by Leyble and a rebound shot by Krakower.
Wingate steps out of the league fray Wednesday, visiting Barton College for a 5 p.m. contest. Newberry (2-6 overall, 1-3 SAC) will also face a Conference Carolinas member in its next contest, as the Wolves host Emmanuel (Ga.) College Monday.
(Newberry athletic communications assistant
Tanner Swift contributed information to this article.)