Three goals in final 30 minutes propel ETSU past The Citadel

Hannah Short (20 goals) moved within one goal of matching ETSU's single-season program record for goals.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

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ETSU's second-half rally and Short's hat trick help Bucs seal come-from-behind win in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Oct. 12, 2014) - After falling victim to a second-half comeback Friday at Mercer, ETSU responded in a huge way Sunday afternoon in Charleston, S.C., mounting a dauntless come-from-behind effort of their own to earn a 5-3, league win at The Citadel.

Trailing 3-2 through 59 minutes of play, the Bucs (12-4, 4-2) scored three unanswered goals, all within a 12-minute span, to stun The Citadel and clinch ETSU's fourth win in five contests.

Sophomore Thomai Vardali (Koufalia, Greece) scored the equalizer for the Bucs in the 60th minute, while Hannah Short (Bristol, England) scored the game-winner just 82 seconds later (62'), her team-best fourth game-winning goal of the season.

Short, the nation's leading scorer (20G, 6A), added another goal in the 72nd minute to seal the victory. She scored three times in the match (43', 62', 72') to run her season total to 20 goals, moving her within one goal of matching Ramey Kerns' single-season program record of 21 set in 2012.

Senior Jasmin Dutton (Kinmel Bay, Wales) dished out three assists in the win, including the assist of Vardali's game-tying, 60th-minute score. Dutton has recorded three assists in three different matches this season, also doing so versus Tennessee Tech and Howard.

Dutton's three-assist effort pulled her even with teammate Sarah Zadrazil (St. Gilgen, Austria) for the nation's top assist mark of 15. Zadrazil also recorded an assist Sunday, setting up Paola Roversi's (Rieti, Italy) seventh-minute goal that gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead.

Zadrazil has now recorded at least one point in ETSU's last five contests. During that span, she has recorded four goals and five assists, helping the Bucs to four victories.

ETSU outshot The Bulldogs (5-11, 1-5) by a 17-15 margin in the match.

After relieving Jasmine Elliott (Preston, England) in the second half, sophomore goalkeeper Anna Yancey (Rosemark, Tenn.) allowed no goals in the final 42:15 of play.

QUOTES FROM COACH SAYERS

"We are very pleased to get the points today. That's the most important thing. After taking an early lead through a good finish from Paola [Roversi], we had a shaky first half. The Citadel played well, and their movement was quicker, their passing was crisper and more incisive. Their marking was tight and they didn't afford us much space, which made things tricky. Sarah was a constant threat, continually turning away from the close attention she was receiving and creating chances. But overall our first half performance was not what we expect, and we went into half time 3-2 down."
"All credit to the players. They turned it around in the second half and played well. Thomai Vardali played a very important role in that. She came on in the first half, and was one of our best players today. She scored one, assisted another, and was brilliant overall. Hannah [Short]'s finishing was also a big factor. She scored s very good hat trick. Her second goal in particular was sublime. Jas Dutton's set piece delivery was very good in the second half, and Yancey did well, coming on in goal. We are very happy with the three points.

NEXT UP

ETSU vs. VMI - Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:00 p.m. - Senior Night

To view the Southern Conference standings, click here.

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