Lions soccer team draws second straight

The Lions ended their match in a draw for the second time in a week Friday night with a 2-2 result against the University of Central Oklahoma at the A&M-Commerce Soccer Field.

"A draw was probably a fair result," A&M-Commerce Head Coach Neil Piper said. "Both teams went for it, both teams wanted to try and win. It's sickening we gave up a goal with a minute left, but we didn't execute. They kept the pressure on. The game's 90 minutes for a reason."

A&M-Commerce senior Chelsey Haight opened the scoring in the 20th minute of play. After gathering the ball at the top of the box, Haight took the ball down the right side of the net and applied a sliding finish, sending the ball up and over (class) goalkeeper Samantha Rusk for the 1-0 lead for her team leading seventh goal of the season.

With just over 10 minutes left in the first half, the Bronchos grabbed an equalizer. Not for the first time in the match, the Lions found themselves scrambling to get the ball out of their penalty area. The ball ended up pen-balling off of various sets of legs, and Lions junior goalkeeper Randi Hafele looked to have gotten on top of it. Somehow the ball squirmed out, and UCO junior Ashton Morris sent the low shot underneath Hafele and into the net, tying the score 1-1.

The second half was much more action packed, and the Lions took advantage early. Junior Jordan McCarty found herself in space in the middle of the park, and sent a perfect cross to the left side of the box. Fellow junior Devon Herrman was there to get on the end of it and headed the ball up and over the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net from about 10 yards out. The goal was Herrman's fifth of the year.

"Usually when I get the ball, I don't have a lot of time," McCarty said. "I brought it down from my chest, took a touch. All week we've been practicing, looking for that diagonal ball. I saw Devon [Herrman]. She was about 20 yards from goal, but I knew she'd make that run. I just kicked it and tried to angle it so she could run onto it. She's strong in the air and just finished for us."

Right after the goal, the Bronchos nearly came back a second time. Junior Katy Kashwer rushed in on a through ball only to see her shot saved by a charging Hafele. The ball deflected back to Keshwer, and her second shot was headed off the line by senior defender Megan Monroe. Sophomore Stephanie Fleig was inches away from a goal later in the second half, as her shot to the far post went just wide.

A&M-Commerce did not go without having their own chances. McCarty nearly went from provider to scorer when her header off a cross went over the net. Later in the match, a cross from freshman Tareyn Blanton nearly went in off the head of Haight, but the ball just inched wide of the net.

Just as the Lions looked to be wrapping up a crucial win, UCO found their second equalizing goal off of a beauty from Morris. The junior got control of the ball on the right flank and sent a curling shot in from 20-yards out that just snuck into the near post. With the score at 2-2 at the end of regulation, A&M-Commerce went into overtime for the second time in a matter of days.

The first overtime period was fairly subdued. Walker got the best chance for UCO when her header went just wide of the Lions' goal. As the second half moved closer to the end, A&M-Commerce was able to pile on some pressure. In the end a Herrman corner kick was punched away by Rusk to finish out a high tempo affair.

"I thought we responded well," Piper said about conceding a goal so late. "In the first overtime, we were still stunned. I thought in the second overtime we worked our tails off and deserved a winner. Central Oklahoma was dangerous going forward. I never rested the whole time. It's just one of those games."

With three shots, two of which were on goal, and an assist, McCarty was easily one of the main catalysts for A&M-Commerce throughout the game.

"She played well," Piper said. "The way both teams played, both attacked and left the midfield open. She had loads of room in there, and she did well. The second goal was great."