Lions Edge Houghton in OT; Morra Nets Game Winner

Leah Morra scored a pair of goals, including the game winner in overtime, to lead the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team past Houghton 3-2 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

Lions Edge Houghton in OT; Morra Nets Game Winner
October 4, 2016
Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Leah Morra (Pittsburgh, PA/North Hills) scored a pair of goals, including the game winner in overtime, to lead the Penn State Behrend women's soccer team past Houghton 3-2 in non-conference action on Tuesday night.

The Lions (8-4) picked up their first program win over the Highlanders (5-3-2) in dramatic fashion, getting back-to-back goals from Morra to erase a 2-1 deficit and get the game winner with 1:14 left in the first overtime period.

Freshman goalie Sam Morlacci (Apollo, PA/Shady Side Academy) made her first collegiate start in goal for Behrend, making one save in the win.

Catherine Eichenlaub (Wexford, PA/Pine-Richland) scored at the 16:07 for her fourth goal of the season to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. She fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box, low and on the ground that sent goalie Sadie Dunnett one way but deflected off a defender to go another.

The Highlanders got back-to-back goals in the second half, starting with Bailey Shattell blasting a shot off the crossbar to tie it at 1-all just 35 seconds into the second stanza. Almost 20 minutes later, Nikki Garns sent a direct kick past Morlacci for a 2-1 edge.

Moora tied the game once again in the 70th minute. The senior got her first goal of the season with a shot from the 18 that hooked into the left corner to make it 2-all.

Less than a minute later, Laura Schaefer (Erie, PA/General McLane) had a one-touch shot from Bilka's cross that was saved by Rachael Fortney. On the ensuing corner kick for the Lions, Olivia Belack (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair) had a chance to avoid overtime but her header was stopped by a defender on the goal line.

In overtime, Alex Bilka (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) tallied two straight shots to start before Morra fired a shot inside the box into the side netting for the game winner.

Behrend held a 20-6 shot advantage, including 7-0 in overtime.

The Lions return to action on Saturday for senior day against Penn State Altoona. Game time is 1 p.m.