WINCHESTER, Va. – Shenandoah University extended its women's soccer unbeaten streak to eight games Friday night by tying No. 9 Lynchburg 1-1.
The tie snaps a 39-game ODAC winning streak for defending national champion Lynchburg (15-2-1, 8-0-1 ODAC).
Shenandoah (10-6-1, 7-1-1) moves into sole possession of second place in the league with the tie. SU is one point ahead of third place Virginia Wesleyan and two back of LC with two games left and has put itself in position to clinch a home game in the first round of the ODAC Tournament with a win Wednesday at Bridgewater.
Senior Danielle Burris gave the hosts the early lead with her unassisted goal at 9:18; the goal was the first scored against Lynchburg in league play since Bridgewater tallied in the 82nd minute of a 5-1 loss on September 13, 2014.
Burris' corralled a loose ball approximately 30 yards from the LC goal and ripped her diving shot into the bottom right corner.
Lynchburg had scored 104 straight goals in league play prior to Burris' tally.
LC brought the game back to level on a Marina Clark to Kelley Smith goal at 17:47.
Smith hit her shot from just outside the 18-yard box that entered the goal just under the crossbar.
Lynchburg, which has not lost a league game since September of 2009, appeared to have an excellent chance for the win when it was awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute.
But Shenandoah keeper Erin Septer had other ideas.
Septer dove left, smothering Smith's attempt and keeping the game tied at 1-1.
"Erin dominated the defense tonight," Shenandoah coach Liz Pike said. "She was outstanding."
Septer, a two-time All-ODAC honoree, had six saves, including that PK stop, on the night.
Each team had one shot in overtime, with Shenandoah just missing on a shot at the doorstep with 30 seconds left.
Awarded a corner, SU went short with it and chipped the ball into the middle of the 6-yard box where it landed at Jennifer Nguyen's feet.
Nguyen turned and shot, with the ball going just high and effectively sealing the tie result.
"We were so close at the end," Pike said. "We had a hard fought, exciting game tonight. We stepped up and met the challenge tonight.
"Now it is time to move on to the next game."
