Berels' Overtime Goal Leads #12 Bears Past Principia, 2-1

Elsah, Ill, September 13, 2011 — The No. 12 ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team improved its overall record to 6-0 with a 2-1 overtime victory at Principia College on Tuesday night in Elsah, Ill.

Sophomore Becky Berels scored the game-winning goal at 92:48 in the first overtime, after she took a pass from freshman Anna Zambricki on the far left corner in the box.

Washington University outshot Principia 26-9 for the game, including a 15-2 clip in the second half. Head coach Jim Conlon used 22 players in the victory for Washington U., which improved to 23-3 all-time against Principia.

Junior goalkeeper Clara Jaques picked up the win in goal making four saves. DeNicholas played terrific in net for Principia collecting 11 saves in her first start of the season.

Washington U. dominated possession for the opening seven minutes of play, but it was Principia who struck first. A turnover by Washington U. deep in its own end resulted in a foul just outside the box. Alicia Girbes-Pierce took the free kick from 28 yards out and snuck it by Jacques to the near corner to make it 1-0 at 7:13.

The Bears outshot Principia 10-6 in the opening 45 minutes of play, and had four shots on goal. Sophomore Kate Doyle took a free kick from midfield at 31:51 that deflected off the crossbar, and freshman Lillie Toaspern fired a shot off the left post at 36:55.

Senior Emma Brown knotted the score at 1-1 with a goal at the 64:59. Berels was credited with the assist, as she fed Brown for a right-footed shot from 25 yards out that went off the crossbar into the back of the net.

Washington University faces its toughest test of the 2011 season thus far as the Bears host No. 4 ranked Wheaton College (Ill.) on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. The Thunder are 5-0 overall, and have outscored their opponents 16-2. Wheaton is also ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA Central Region Rankings.

Bear Notebook: Principia suffered its first loss of the season (3-1-1) … Washington U. was ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA Central Region Rankings and Principia was No. 7 … The Bears have started the season 6-0 for the fifth time in school history … Brown moved into sixth place at Washington University in all-time points (70) … Berels became the 10th different Washington University student-athlete to score a goal this season, and the sixth different to record a game-winner.