BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After getting down 1-0 early in the game, the Lady Toppers found a way to come back and get a draw against UAB (2-9-1, 1-3-1 C-USA) in Birmingham, Ala. on Sunday afternoon. WKU is now 6-4-4 overall and 2-2-2 in Conference USA.
UAB got things started just eleven minutes into the game with a header into the net from Blazer leading-scorer, Kacey Johnson, for her fifth goal of the season. The first half saw only two WKU shots and seven UAB shots.
In the 46th minute, traffic piled up in the box and after the ball bounced around from player to player the ball found its way into the goal after a failed clearance from UAB, credited as an own goal. The goal evened up the score, and the scoreboard would not change again in the game.
After having only two shots in the first half, WKU came out firing with 12 shots in the second half and five shots in the overtime periods. WKU was also able to hold UAB to only three shots in the second half and six shots in the extra periods.
Goalkeeper Allison Leone finished the game with a season-high eight saves in the game, bringing her season total to 60. She had crucial back-to-back saves late in the second overtime. UAB had a close-range free kick and the Blazer player shot straight for the goal but Leone punched the ball out of the frame, clearing the ball out to a UAB offender. The player was able to serve the ball into the box to a waiting Blazer who got a shot off but Leone once again made a play on it, slapping the ball away.
WKU was led in shots by Iris Dunn with six and Nicole Roseland and Hannah Chua each added in three.
The game was the fifth overtime game of the season for the Lady Toppers, making their record 1-0-4 in overtime matches. WKU is also now 2-2-3 in road matches this season. With the tie, WKU now has eight points in conference standings.
WKU will return home after playing four straight road games. The Lady Toppers will take on FIU on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:00 PM at the WKU Soccer Complex. FIU is 8-7-0 on the year and 4-2-0 in conference play. WKU will travel to North Carolina to face Charlotte on the following Sunday to end the away portion of the schedule.
