Oct. 24, 2010
Final Stats
ATHENS, Ohio - A late Kent State score in the second overtime dampened Ohio soccer's Senior Day festivities as the Golden Flashes sneaked out a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Chessa Field. Kelsey Pichel and Jackie Hanson each netted goals for the Green and White.
Before the game, Ohio paid tribute to a trio of seniors as Sarah Brown (North Royalton, Ohio), Rachael Goulding (Toronto, Ontario) and Hanson (LaGrange, Ill.) were all honored as part of the day's festivities.
Pichel (Rochester Hills, Mich.) tallied a goal, her second of the year, and an assist to go with her team-high three shots to help pace the `Cats (6-7-4, 3-4-3 MAC). Hanson enjoyed a nice senior day with her second score of the season. Goulding also picked up an assist for the `Cats, while Cathryn Rogers (Toronto, Ontario) and Rachael Philpot (Cincinnati, Ohio) each recorded two shots, including one on goal. Mattie Liston (Lakewood, Ohio) picked up seven saves in the net for Ohio.
"We allowed them (Kent State) to get into the game, and they made it a very direct game," Ohio coach Stacy Strauss said. "In parts I thought we performed well, but we've got to keep the ball down the stretch and make sure we do the right things and the smart things to seal the victory. Give a lot of credit to Kent State. They knew they had to get a win today, and they refused to give up."
The `Cats came out strong early on and scored late in the fifth minute. Ohio got a break as Goulding sent a quick pass to Pichel, who found a streaking Hanson on the right side. She then knocked a bounding shot over the outcoming Kent (3-10-4, 2-6-1 MAC) keeper and into the right corner of the net.
Action went back and forth through the next few minutes until the Golden Flashes responded with a tally in the 12th minute when Jessacca Gironda knocked one just past the `Cats' keeper into the right corner of the net off a crossing pass from Kelly Heaton. Annie Messer was also credited with an assist on the play.
Both sides had chances throughout the rest of the first half, but the defenses were able to close down and limit any serious looks. The first period ended with Ohio holding a slight 4-3 edge in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Play continued to be back and forth to start the second half. The `Cats took advantage of a Kent foul just outside the top of the box early in the 55th minute as Pichel nailed the direct kick into the back left corner of the strings to give the Green and White a 2-1 lead.
The Flashes would not go down without a fight, however, and continued to battle. They were able to convert on a corner late in the 86th minute when Kellyn Flanagan was able to punch a shot into the right side of the goal. Neither side was able to convert on anything in the final four minutes of regulation to send play to overtime. Ohio held a 10-7 edge in shots heading into the first extra frame.
Toye Famodu (Bloomington, Minn.) had a chance to end things in the first overtime as she got a one-on-one breakaway with the Kent keeper on the right side. Her shot sailed just wide of the net though. The Flashes kept the pressure on and nearly ended it themselves with 3:30 left on the clock, but consecutive saves from Liston off Flanagan attempts kept play going. Kent tallied five shots in the period, but Ohio's defense hung tough to force the second overtime.
Both teams traded chances through the first part of the stanza, before the Flashes ended the game with an unfortunate Kent break that ended with a Messer goal in the 106th minute.
Messer had a goal and an assist to go with three shots to help pace the Flashes, while Gironda and Flanagan each had goals on top of three shots apiece.
Ohio will wrap up the regular season Thursday as it welcomes Akron to Chessa Field in a battle for MAC Tournament seeding. First touch is set for 3 p.m.
