University of Texas at Dallas

 RICHARDSON, TX (10.29.09) – The Comets stayed afloat in the ASC playoff hunt with a thrilling double overtime victory over UT Tyler, 2-1.

UTD senior Emily George rocketed a 30-yard strike past UTT goalkeeper Sam Fraser in the 101st minute to snap the Comets’ three-game winless streak—one that nearly cost them a trip to the ASC Tournament next week.

“I think it was a game where the girls knew they had to come out and get a win,” said UTD coach John Antonisse. “There weren’t any other options. We want to go to the tournament. We had to win, and we have to win on Saturday, too.”

The Patriots (11-4-0, 9-2-0), who entered Thursday’s game with only a conference loss to leader Hardin-Simmons on their ledger, registered an early go-ahead goal off Lauren Thomas’ left-footed blast past UTD’s Katelyn Flory. But the Comets responded less than three minutes later as Cassie Lydick found the back of the net, heading a cross that Brittany Ansel sent from the right corner.

Both teams were locked in a stalemate for the next 92 minutes until George scored her third goal of the season, giving UTD its first multi-goal game in three weeks. George is now second on the Comets in points (7) behind Leah Bowyer, who has 12.

Flory, starting her second straight game in net, finished with five saves after playing all 101 minutes.

“I think we, as a coaching staff, finally connected to our players and got everyone on the same page,” said Antonisse, whose team has scored just two goals over its previous four games. “So far, it’s been the most exciting win this year.”

With the win, UTD (6-7-2, 6-4-2) is now tied with Howard Payne for sixth place in the ASC standings. The Comets will host Concordia in the regular season finale on Saturday, when Howard Payne will also have a chance to keep their tourney hopes alive by hosting fourth-place Mary Hardin Baylor. A UTD win or HPU loss would give the Comets the No. 6 seed since UTD defeated HPU earlier this season, 2-0.

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