BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The double-overtime thrillers keep coming for WKU Soccer, but so do the wins.
The Lady Toppers went to two extra periods Sunday for the fifth time this season and the second straight match to open Conference USA play, and it was junior Ashley Leonard's penalty kick in the 105th minute that sent WKU to a 2-1 victory over Louisiana Tech at the WKU Soccer Complex.
"Every three points in this league is crucial, so to find a way to win today – as well as last weekend – and come away with three points is huge," WKU head coach Jason Neidell said. "We've left a lot of overtimes the last couple of years on the table, and this year's team is finding a way to get it done. It's all about the character they're showing on the field, because at some point it just comes down to grit and determination."
WKU (6-2-1, 2-0 Conference USA) has now won four straight matches, including two straight double-OT victories to start conference play. The program is 2-0 to start league competition for the first time since 2016.
Last weekend, the Lady Toppers remained scoreless with Southern Miss until sophomore Ambere Barnett's winner from 25 yards out in the 103rd minute.
On Sunday, Barnett was fouled inside the box in the second overtime to set up Leonard's penalty kick try.
Leonard calmly sent the ball into the right side of the net past the diving Louisiana Tech keeper, securing the outright win with her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
"I think Ambere driving up the field with the ball was what did it, and I just had to be composed and put the ball in the back of the net," Leonard said. "It was important because of how hard we worked for 105 minutes, so to set that in felt really good."
WKU started the day's scoring with an unassisted goal from redshirt sophomore Deven Jackson in the 69th minute, her third of the season.
The Lady Toppers outshot previously unbeaten Louisiana Tech 24-4 on the day, but the Lady Techsters (9-1-1, 1-1) used one of those attempts to tie the match on Autumn Woodard's goal in the 82nd minute.
That sent the match past full time, but it's nothing the Lady Toppers haven't faced already this season. Their five double-overtime matches in nine outings this year are already tied for their most since 2015.
"Hopefully we can win in normal time, but it's really good," said Jackson, whose three shots Sunday were all on frame. "The energy now that we're 2-0 in conference is so good. We've just got to keep it up, take it game by game and just keep moving forward doing what we've been doing."
Leonard and junior Victoria Mayo paced WKU with five shots apiece, while Leonard put four of hers on goal.
This was the fourth straight match that the Lady Toppers have amassed at least 22 total shots.
WKU redshirt senior goalkeeper Anne-Marie Ulliac played the full match, recording one save.
The Lady Toppers continue their program-record, seven-match homestand against Charlotte at 7 p.m. CT Thursday at the WKU Soccer Complex.
Admission is free as it is for all WKU home matches, and the contest will be streamed on Facebook Live via the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network.
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