CEDAR CITY, Utah ? Sept. 21 ? Freshman Allison Goettsche scored an equalizing goal in the 89th-minute, forcing overtime in SUU women's soccer action against Oral Roberts on Friday afternoon. Neither team broke the deadlock after the final 20 minutes, resulting in a tie for both squads.
“It was just a fierce battle today,” head coach Brian Stock said after the game. “I was almost in need of a defibrillator with the last second goal, but it was just an outstanding effort today with the team keeping with it.”
The Thunderbirds were on the board first as senior Catherine Johnson blasted a shot off an Erica Berlin cross for her first goal of the season. The goal crossed the line in the fourth minute as Southern Utah's attack swarmed the offensive third in the opening minutes of the game.
The 1-0 lead carried over into the break, but would not hold long into the second half.
Golden Eagles' Shakira Duncan tied the game in the 55th-minute on a slow rolling header off a Marissa Ranberger cross to tie the game at 1-1. The pair hooked up again in the 87th-minute with Ranberger feeding Duncan in a breakaway opportunity as the freshman scored her league-leading seventh goal of the season for ORU's first lead of the game.
The lead was once again not safe as Southern Utah continued to battle down the stretch with its opportunity coming off a scrum on a corner kick. Brooklyn Phillips' serve bounced around inside the box until Goettsche's foot finally helped the ball find the back of the net with 35-seconds remaining in the game.
“We had so many flurries in front of the goal that just flew away on us,” Stock said of the goal, “But this one was able to find the back of the net.”
The last-second goal forced overtime and despite out shooting the Golden Eagles 7-1 in the final two periods, Southern Utah was unable to break the tie and had to settle for its second Summit League point.
The Thunderbirds will be back in action on Sunday when Southern Utah welcomes the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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