BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- The WKU women's soccer team came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game in the second half against Valparaiso on Sunday at the WKU Soccer Complex. The game went into two overtime periods, but both teams failed to score resulting in a draw. The Lady Toppers and Crusaders are now an identical 2-2-1 on the season.
The Crusaders got things started with a goal in the 12th minute when Senior Rita Craven was streaking the right side of the field and Morgan Manzke served the ball perfectly in the box for Craven to punch it in. WKU had opportunities in the half, but was unable to score the ball. The Lady Toppers had two shots with one on goal in the period. Valpo had four shots in the first half with two on goal.
Valpo added to their lead in the second half with a goal from April Cronin in the 50th minute. Cronin took the ball from about 50 yards out and dribbled around the WKU defenders and shot the ball out of the reach of Allison Leone, making the score of the game 2-0.
With 28 minutes left in the game, play was suspended due to lightning in the area. The game resumed 30 minutes later and the Lady Toppers came out recharged. Just a few seconds after the start, Iris Dunn broke free and looked to be open for a shot inside the box, but the Valpo keeper dove on the ball. She was whistled for obstruction and Dunn was given a penalty kick. She kicked left and the goalie went right, giving the Lady Toppers their first goal of the game. Dunn is now 3-3 on PKs in her career and has three goals in the young season.
In the 68th minute, there was another lightning delay causing pause in the action. Once again, WKU came out of the delay with new energy. In the 72nd minute, the Lady Toppers had a corner kick taken by Nahyo Jalajel. Jalajel served the ball into the box where Chandler Clark was able to get a head on the ball but the shot went wide. 30 seconds later, the same play set up again. Jalajel served the ball from the left corner into the box finding Clark, who this time was able to head the ball into the net, scoring the equalizer for WKU.
With the score tied, both teams turned up the intensity. WKU had three shots in the last 15 minutes of regulation. Both teams also became much more aggressive, resulting in five fouls being called in the last 15 minutes. There were six yellow cards handed out during the duration of the game. One foul in the 87th minute resulted in a penalty kick for the Crusaders. Craven lined up to take her shot against Leone, but kicked too far right and hit the post. Neither team would score in the last two minutes, sending the game into overtime.
The first overtime saw four Valpo shots and one WKU shot, but no goals. The second extra period saw much of the same with two Valpo shots and one WKU shot, but no goals. In a non-conference game, after two overtime periods if the score is still tied, the match results in a draw.
Both teams picked up the pace of the game after the extended breaks in action. WKU had 15 totals shots in the game, a third of which came after the lightning delays. Valpo finished the game with 17 shots including 10 after the delays.
For Valpo, this was the second consecutive game that went into double overtime. Friday, the Crusaders and Belmont took two extra periods to determine a winner, with Valpo coming out on top. This was the first overtime game for WKU this season after having four overtime games last season.
The Lady Toppers are next in action on Friday at Mercer and Sunday at Georgia State. The road trip serves as a homecoming for five WKU players who hail from the Peach State. The next home game for WKU is Friday, Sept. 18 against Memphis.
Season tickets are available online at wkusports.com or by calling the WKU ticket office at 1-800-5-BIGRED. A $25 flexible ticket package is available that includes home games against Memphis, Rice, Louisiana Tech, FIU, Marshall and Florida Atlantic.
