Norwich’s Sydney Coggins battles with Oneonta’s Dani Basdekis during Tuesday’s 2019 season opener at Norwich. Coggins scored the Tornado’s lone goal of the contest but the Yellowjackets’ stole the 3-1 win in overtime. (Evening Sun Photo, Frank Speziale)

NORWICH – Oneonta’s Mary Brantley’s scored the game tying goal with just over 18 minutes remaining in regulation. Despite an effort late in the second half by Norwich’s McKenzie Hess, the two rivals went into overtime and the Yellowjackets’ momentum carried them to a 3-1 win over the host Tornado.

Norwich took the first lead of the contest with a fast break goal by returning starter Sydney Coggins. Her goal was started with a nicely timed pass from sweeper Abby Flynn.

Coggins used her speed to get past the last defender and bury a shot in the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game.

The Lady Tornado then held onto the lead for the majority of the game. “We controlled the first half and went to halftime with the lead based on strong goalie play by Halea Eaton,” said Doug Coggins, Norwich’s second year head coach.

The intermission brought out a tale of two halves for the Tornado squad, as Coggins stated his team was out shot and out hustled to every free ball on the field.

Oneonta, who had a strong case for controlling the time of possession in the second half, finally found the net with 18:42 left in the game when Brantley was fed a pass in front of Eaton by teammate Hannah Johnson.

Johnsons’ attack prior to the pass forced Eaton to focus on her, leaving Brantley open for a quick shot into the back of the net.

Norwich held off the constant pressure by the Yellowjackets’ offense in front of the goal to keep the tie intact and force the extra 20 minutes of soccer but Oneonta’s Johnson scored twice in the first period of overtime to give her team their first lead of the game. Dani Basdekis and Anika Buzzy each produced an assist in overtime, helping preserve the Yellowjackets’ advantage until the end.