Lady Toppers Drop 3-2 Double OT Heartbreaker at Samford

Friday, August 30

Birmingham, Ala.

7 P.M. CT

Western Kentucky University

1-1-1

Samford

1-1-1

Western Kentucky

Samford

8/30/2019 10:14:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Samford goal that only just crossed the line in the closing seconds proved to be the difference on Friday evening at the Samford Soccer Stadium as WKU dropped a 3-2 double overtime decision in its first setback of the 2019 campaign.

WKU (1-1-1) appeared set to claim its second straight draw after battling to a scoreless deadlock at Kentucky last Sunday afternoon, but Grace Sommi's winner with just over 30 seconds remaining gave Samford (1-1-1) a last-minute winner. Set up by a corner kick, Sommi's shot took a deflection off the crossbar and was grabbed by Anne-Marie Ulliac, but was judged to have crossed the line by the referee.

Ambere Barnett was among the most dangerous players on the field on Friday night, firing a match-high five shots and creating several scoring chances for the Lady Toppers with two assists. Chandler Backes and Ashley Leonard tallied the goals for WKU as both struck for the first time in 2019; Backes' tally also moved her into sole possession of eighth place on WKU's all-time goalscoring list with 19 career goals.

Samford outshot the Lady Toppers by a narrow 18-15 margin, however WKU's 15 shots were generated by nine different players as the team looked to mount offensive pressure in the second half. Though the corners were even at five apiece, the Bulldogs made the most of their set piece opportunities, scoring twice off of corners, including the match-winner.

The Bulldogs were efficient offensively, putting 10 of their 18 chances on frame and pressuring Ulliac throughout the second half and overtime periods. Sommi, Kylie Gazza and Audrey Kleiman tallied Samford's goals, with Alyssa Frazier adding a pair of assists.

Ulliac played the full match between the posts for the Lady Toppers, making seven saves and surrendering Samford's three goals. For the Bulldogs, Morgan McAslan also played the full match with two goals allowed and a trio of saves.

Much like they did in their opening matches last weekend, WKU came out of the gates and applied offensive pressure early, eventually resulting in Backes' go-ahead strike at the 16:32 mark. Sydney Ernst played the ball up from the back, finding Barnett in the midfield who slotted a pass behind the Bulldogs' defense for Backes. Set up with a one-on-one opportunity against McAslan, the senior dribbled past and fired into the open goal for the early 1-0 lead.

Mary Raymond nearly pulled Samford level just before the halftime break on a hard shot inside the box, but Ulliac was there to make the stop and preserve the one-goal edge heading into the locker room.

Just over three minutes into the second half, Gazza knotted the match off a well-placed corner from Frazier at the back post, bringing the ball down and beating the Lady Topper back line for a 1-1 scoreline.

Ulliac was forced into action often over the next 20 minutes, making three saves as the Bulldogs pressed up seeking a go-ahead goal. Despite the run of play, however, a miscommunication along Samford's back line and a failed clearance put the ball right on the foot of Leonard, who shot beat McAslan low to restore the one-goal lead for WKU in the 68th minute.

Only two minutes later, Samford fired right back to tie the match once again. Kleiman dribbled around the top of the box and fired a high-arcing shot into the top left corner; Ulliac attempted to dive for the save but could not get to the well-placed shot. The two sides continued to battle over the final 20 minutes of regulation but were unable to decide a winner.

WKU threatened with a trio of corners in the first overtime period but was unable to convert despite good looks from Barnett. The two sides appeared headed for a 2-2 draw until Sommi's last-gasp goal with under a minute remaining gave Samford the 3-2 victory.

The Lady Toppers will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. as WKU heads to Murfreesboro, Tenn., for a special non-conference matchup with archrival Middle Tennessee. With the all-time series between the two rivals all tied up at 6-6-6, Sunday's match could break the tie should it produce a winner. That will be the last of three straight road matches for WKU, who will be back at the Soccer Complex next Thursday evening at 7 p.m. for a marquee matchup against SEC foe Ole Miss.