‘Downtown Abbey’ Completes Soccer Playoff Comeback Win

The third-seeded Erie Community College women's soccer team (15-2) hosted a regional playoff game for the second-consecutive year, Oct. 25. Last year the team excelled in its home field advantage before moving onto the road for the rest of regional playoff play. This year, however, things didn't go quite as planned.

Almost as if they were creating a made-for-TV movie, the Kats rallied from three goals late in the first half to complete an almost impossible come-from-behind win, 4-3, against sixth-seeded Delta Community College to advance to the next round of regional playoff play.

Although the sports reference "downtown" usually is attributed to the area from where a 3-point basket is made, Abbey Lombard just didn't drain a one-time shot but she did convert three – shots into goals and tie the game at 3-3.

The Pioneers were sitting pretty about to take a 3-0 lead into the intermission when Lombard was impeded and awarded a penalty kick with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Not only did Lombard send that shot downtown to put the score at 3-1, but she added another goal with about 90 seconds left in the half to close the gap at 3-2 before the break after receiving a pass from Brea Borynski.

The Pioneers were keeping a close eye on Lombard in the second half, but they couldn't stop the momentum she had started late in the first. With about 11 minutes left, Lombard was awarded another penalty kick and like the first one, she took it downtown to tie the game at 3-3.

The comeback was completed not with another Lombard goal, but with a Lombard pass to Chrissy Alonge, who got the game-winner with just over five minutes to play.

All told, Lombard registered 10 points in about a 45-minute span and gave the spectators a performance to remember.

Both Erie goalkeepers were busy while combining for 18 saves. Alex Zentz had eight of those, while Hannah Clarkson earned the win with 10.

ECC will now face No. 2 Finger Lakes, who got by No. 7 Hudson Valley, 1-0. The next round is set for Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. at Tompkins-Cortland Community College.