Devan Doyle's Goal Completes Women's Soccer's Stunning Comeback In 3-2 Triumph Over Alvernia

(box score)

Junior Devan Doyle (Woodbury Heights, NJ) scored one of the biggest goals of her career in the 79th minute, giving Widener a thrilling 3-2 Commonwealth Conference win over Alvernia at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

Things looked bleak for the Pride (7-5-1, 2-2 CC) down two goals in the second half. But senior Brittany Balentine (Medford, NJ) got things rolling in the 59th minute with her first goal of the season and 27th career off Doyle's feed to close the gap to 2-1.

Senior Brittany Harvis (Delran, NJ) then took her turn on center stage in the 73rd minute. Junior Alyssa Scala (Sayville, NY) launched a perfect pass into the box that Harvis headed in for her fourth goal of the season and 33rd career.

It was then up to Doyle to lower the curtain. Senior Kristin Yeager (Hamburg, PA) put a great shot toward the left post that goalkeeper Jamie Dearie just got a hand on. That little deflection played a big part as the ball nestled for Doyle, who slid one home for her third goal of the season and 10th career.

Junior Vanessa Hejnas (Delran, NJ) once again played solidly in net with five saves and Harvis took four shots for the Pride, who are 7-3 in their last 10 outings.

The victory puts Widener in a fourth-place tie with Arcadia (2-2) and Elizabethtown (2-3) in the conference with six points. The squads trail Alvernia (7-6-1, 2-2-1) by one point for third.

Kristen Eckert scored 59 seconds into the match off a re-directed shot from Kelsey Gill and Karli Nestor capitalized off a turnover that Rachel Gimber created in the 50th minute for the Crusaders. Dearie finished with three saves.

Widener on Saturday hosts Lebanon Valley at 6:00 pm as part of a doubleheader with the men's team.

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