La Plume, PA – Shauna Menzella (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley) scored 1:29 into overtime to lift Keystone College to a thrilling, 2-1 victory over Notre Dame of Maryland University in the Colonial States Athletic Conference women's soccer opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.  The Giants, who forced extra time on Cassie Ehrhart (Stamford, NY/Stamford Central)'s goal late in regulation, picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1-4-1 overall (1-0 CSAC) while dealing the Gators (6-1, 0-1 CSAC) their first loss of the year. 
 
Keystone had the first real good opportunity of Saturday's contest.  With just under 21 minutes remaining in the first half, Brittany Sugalski (Nanticoke, PA/Greater Nanticoke Area) made a great step and steal from her defensive position and played a long thru-ball to Nisa Cortes (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), who escaped behind Notre Dame's defensive only to have her breakaway chance foiled by Gator goalkeeper Lilly Gordon.  Notre Dame had a good look of their own with 16 minutes left in the half, but Meghan Connor's shot from the top of the box went just wide.
 
Cortes nearly put the Giants in front with 11 and a half minutes left in the opening stanza, but Gordon made a great diving save to deny the freshman's header bid of a corner kick served in by Ehrhart.
 
The game remain tied 0-0 at halftime with Keystone holding a slim, 8-7 edge in shots in the frame including a 5-2 advantage in attempts on goal.
 
Notre Dame broke the scoreless deadlock 7:20 into the second half.  Savannah Ferrara struck a direct kick from 25 yards out that deflected off the Giants' wall an over the head of Keystone goalkeeper Sarah Heintz (Glenside, PA/Abington) into the back of the net.
 
The hosts were inches away from tying the contest just moments later, but Menzella's long-range shot stayed out after banging off the goalpost.  Just seconds later, the woodwork again denied the Giants as Corte's 18-yard shot caromed off the left post.
 
Notre Dame nearly doubled their lead with eight minutes remaining on a counterattack, but Heintz got just enough of Ferrara's shot to have save it, getting help as the ball then stayed out after hitting the post.
 
The Giants finally solved Gordon and the goalposts with just 5:43 left in regulation when Ehrhart cut to the middle of the field of the dribble and ripped a shot from 35 yards out that beat Gordon over the top.
 
Early in the first overtime, Sugalski fed a pass to Menzella, who laced a shot from 20 yards out that clipped the bottom of the crossbar and fell in over the line to give Keystone their first victory of the season in dramatic fashion.
 
Keystone finished the game with a 23-13 advantage in shots while collected three corner kicks to none for Notre Dame.  
 
Heintz notched her first victory in goal for the Giants after making five saves while Gordon suffered the loss despite turning away nine shots in the contest.
 
Keystone will visit Rosemont College on Wednesday for conference game scheduled to kickoff at 4:00 p.m. in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.