Kent State Wins Overtime Thriller 2-1 Over SIU-Edwardsville
8/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
Golden Flashes win 2008 home opener
KENT, Ohio - A throw-in by senior Caitlin Hester (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington)found junior Catharine Marosszeky (Aurora, Ohio/Cardinal Carter) in the 96th minute as Kent State wins their home-opener over Southern Illinois-Edwardville 2-1. The Golden Flashes improve to 2-1 with the victory, while the Cougars fell to 1-2 in their first season as a NCAA Division I program.
“We fought and played hard for most of the match, so when the game was on the line where were in control” said Head Coach Rob Marinaro, “The intensity is always higher when you play at home and it was important for us to come out and defend our home field.”
In the first half despite the ball staying on the SIU-Edwardsville side of the field early, the Cougars were the first to find the back of the net. Jen Kratzer for Edwardsville found teammate Jenny Kates 18 yards out on the right side to put the Cougars up 1-0 in the 19th minute.
However, it did not take long for the Golden Flashes to strike back. Sophomore Jenni Stapleton (New Albany, Ohio / New Albany) passed it the top of the box and Hester blasted it into the goal from 35 yards out in the 26th minute.
Both teams had scoring chances in the rest of the first half but neither team could gain an advantage as the teams battled to a 1-1 tie at intermission.
In the second half, the intensity picked but the game remained tied. With less than a minute remaining in regulation, the Cougars found Kates alone on the right side 15 yards out. However, her shot went right to outstretched hands of Kent State red-shirt freshman goalie Kelly Sherwood (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville).
The Golden Flashes mounted a last second offensive of their own, but Marosszeky's shot with three seconds remaining was saved by Edwardsville.
Overtime was all Kent State, as the ball rarely crossed mid-field for Edwardsville. Marosszeky's golden goal was the only shot in more than five minutes of the extra frame.
For the game, both teams were effective in putting shots on goal. The Cougars took six shots, five of which were saved by KSU's Sherwood. The Golden Flashes placed eight of their 12 shots on goal.
Kent State returns to action on Friday when they are scheduled to travel to Louisiana for an 8:00 pm EST tilt with LSU.
NOTES: Marosszeky now has six game winning goals in her career ... Sherwood is 2-0 on the year in goal for the Golden Flashes ... The goal was the 10th of Hester's career.
