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Alyvia Walls scored the game-tying goal with 11 seconds left to earn WKU a point in CUSA play. With the draw, WKU now moves up to first place alongside Liberty.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first few minutes of the half were controlled by UTEP but the field flipped to WKU and the Hilltoppers were on the attack for the majority of the first 45 minutes of play. Ansley Rice recorded WKU's first shot on goal in the 13th minute.Â
In the 33rd minute Alaina Nugier nearly got one to fall but the UTEP goalkeeper recorded the save. Rice and Danielle Lewin followed that with a shot on target of their own but couldn't find the back of the net as the first half came to a close in a scoreless tie.
WKU managed 10 shots in the first frame compared to just two for the Miners. Maddie Davis recorded one save in the first 45 minutes of action.
The second half of play saw more balance in terms of possession. Lewin charted the first shot of the half at the 46 minute mark. UTEP would manage eight of the next nine shots taken, controlling possession on their end of the field.
Then, in the 86th minute of the match UTEP broke the scoreless tie, taking a lead with just over three minutes remaining. Once play resumed WKU gained control of the ball and Maggie Bellair fired off a shot that was saved by the UTEP keeper. Just 19 seconds later Lauren Alexander found Alyvia Walls who caught the keeper in disarray and buried the game-tying goal with just 11 seconds left in the match.
The final seconds would run out as WKU and UTEP's Thursday night match ended in a 1-1 draw. With the draw, WKU moves atop the CUSA standings with 14 points, now tied with Liberty.
NOTABLES
- With the draw WKU moves to 7-4-3 and 4-0-2 in CUSA play. WKU now has 14 points in CUSA play this season.
- The Hilltoppers are now tied for the top of the league standings with 14 points, alongside Liberty.
- WKU is one of only two teams in CUSA without a loss in league play this season.
- Alyvia Walls scored the game-tying goal for WKU in the 89th minute with just 11 seconds remaining.
- With the goal Thursday, WKU has now scored a goal in the final 10 minutes in four consecutive matches. Two of the four were in the final 11 seconds of the match, Mackenzie Howard's at Sam Houston with nine seconds left and Thursday night.
- The goal marks the second for Walls in as many matches. The sophomore now has the game-winning goal and the game-tying goal in consecutive matches.
- Walls finished with two shots and a goal in 81 minutes on the field Thursday night.
- Lauren Alexander assisted in the game-tying goal. The freshman finished with one assist in 33 minutes of action.
- The assist is the first of Alexander's collegiate career.
- Ansley Rice and Danielle Lewin each finished with three shots apiece to lead the team. Two of Lewin's three shots were on target, including a penalty kick in the second half. Rice tallied 77 minutes while Lewin managed 33.
- As a team, WKU managed 17 shots compared to 11 for UTEP. 10 of WKU's shots were on target.
- In goal, Maddie Davis got the starting nod for the 10th consecutive match. Davis played the full 90 minutes and finished with five saves and one goal allowed.
- The all-time series mark between the Tops and Miners is now 4-3-2 in favor of WKU.
- Thursday's draw was the first ever between the two programs in Bowling Green.
- WKU now holds a 2-2-1 mark against the Miners at home.
QUOTABLE
On the finish Thursday night head coach Jason Neidell said "We keep finding ways to get results. It was great to be able to see us equalize late and salvage a point out of this match."
On the game-tying goal Neidell said "We were trying to get the ball forward and Lauren played a long service which she's super capable of playing that type of service and it caught them in between. Their goalkeeper was coming out and defenders were going back and Alyvia snuck in there and put it in over the goalkeeper. It was a great goal to give us a point tonight."
FULL PRESSER
NEXT UP
WKU will round out the home regular season slate Sunday, October 19 against New Mexico State. Kick-off from the WKU Soccer Complex is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Soccer on X and Instagram and @WKUSoccer on Facebook.
