Senior Brooke Barbuto

Sept. 8, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Senior Brooke Barbuto (Syracuse, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal with 3:02 remaining to lift the Stony Brook women's soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Fordham Rams on Sunday afternoon at LaValle Stadium . The Seawolves improve to 3-2-0 while the Rams fall to 1-1-1.

Stony Brook led most of the way after an early goal from freshman Colleen McKenna (Manorville, N.Y.) but the Rams tied the score at 1-all in the 84th minute as Katie McDermott headed a cross from Kim Boulos just inside the left post. But Barbuto struck with the game-winner just over three minutes later, deflecting a loose ball past Fordham keeper Jen Byer to send the Seawolves to their second straight victory.

McKenna's goal came in the sixth minute as she took a pass from senior Trine Allenberg (Roberts, Wisc.) on the left side of the 18-yard box and chipped it past an oncoming Byer. Alleberg nearly added to the lead several minutes later but her shot from 25 yards out hit the crossbar.

Junior goalkeeper Marisa Viola (Cutchogue, N.Y.) kept the Rams off the board for the remainder of the first half including a point blank stop on a McDermott shot with just over 10 minutes remaining in the period. Viola made three saves in the opening half for the Seawolves while Byer made two for the Rams.

Fordham nearly tied in the 71st minute but Viola tipped a header from Katie Sanchez just wide. The Rams almost scored again minutes later on a Alexis Ribadeneyra 20-yard strike before finally tying it on McDermott's header with 6:32 remaining.

Viola finished the game with nine saves for the Seawolves who were outshot 17-14 by the Rams.