Defense dominated play in the second half as the two clubs combined for nine shots. Each team put three shots on goal with Betsy Duncan leading Western (8-5-2, 3-1-2 SBC) and Laura Miguez pacing the Blue Raiders (9-6-1, 4-1-1 SBC) with two shots each. Both goalkeepers posted three saves in the half as the team went into intermission scoreless.
Western had a golden scoring chance in the 57th minute of play as a cross pulled MTSU goalie Danielle Perreault out of the goal, but a shot by Kelly Frericks hit the post. On the ensuing corner kick, Duncan served a ball that was deflected by Crystal Chapon onto the foot of Erica Baker. Baker then fired from 10 yards out that found the back of the net to give the Lady Toppers a 1-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee remained aggressive on offense, outshooting the Lady Toppers 11-8 in the second half. That aggressiveness was rewarded in the 81st minute when Rebecca Rodriguez put a shot in the top right corner of the net, evening the match at 1-1 and sending it to overtime.
Each team took three shots in the first overtime period, with Bailey coming up with three saves in the ten-minute period. Again, both teams were kept off the scoreboard as the match went to a second overtime. The result was the same in the final ten minutes, as the teams walked off the field knotted at 1-1.
Western will close out the 2003 regular season next weekend, traveling to Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday (Oct. 31) and South Alabama on Sunday (Nov. 2).
