The fifth ranked JC women’s Soccer team (8-0-2, 3-0-2 IAAM A) battled to a 0-0 draw in double overtime game against second ranked Mercy (9-1-1, 3-0-1 IAAM A) Wednesday.

The top five clashes had important implications for the rest of the year, with two of the top four teams in the conference.

Throughout the game, Mercy junior Alexis Prior-Brown created chances to score up top with her blistering pace. But, JC sophomore Kiana Wright was effective in shutting her down. In the second half, Wright marked Prior-Brown everywhere on the field and prevented her from successfully handling the ball.

During the last minutes of the first half, Mercy broke down the right side. An intended cross ricocheted off the post, and JC goalkeeper junior Gina Maiorana stopped the ball from crossing the line. In the second period of overtime, Prior-Brown broke down the left flank and fired a low shot that Maiorana pushed away with a strong left hand.

JC junior Shelby Foit nearly slotted home a volley in the middle of the first half from 12 yards out. Following a corner, Foit found herself with a free volley, which she narrowly pushed wide. Sophomore Olivia DiFonso and junior Leah Pace worked hard up top too, causing problems for the Mercy defense throughout the game.

“I think that even though we didn’t win, we outplayed mercy all the way through both overtimes. We played like a team and each and every person played their best,” JC sophomore Becky Hottle said.

JC will be back in action Monday against the IAAM leader and nationally ranked McDonogh. The first ranked team in the state will be a true test for the record of JC.

‎”I think if McDonogh is going to come out thinking they can dominate us, they’ve got something coming,” Maiorana said.

Henry Shepard can be reached for comment at [email protected].