Kent State Rallies For 4-3 Double Overtime Win At Central Michigan
10/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Golden Flashes win second straight MAC game, improve to 3-1 in the league
Mt. PLEASANT, Mich. — Kent State overcame a two goal deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation before senior Debbie Bell (Hamilton, New Zealand) scored her fifth career walk-off goal in the 86th minute that sent the Golden Flashes to a 4-3 double-overtime win at Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon.
Bell, who also scored the game tying goal in the 67th minute, rallied the Golden Flashes to a second straight Mid-American Conference win as the team improves to 3-1 in the MAC and 5-8 overall.
"Central Michigan is a good team and gave us a really good fight, but we were able to pick up an important win on the road" said Kent State Head Coach Kathleen Wiler.
Kent State found itself in a 2-0 hole after Central Michigan (5-7; 3-3 MAC) scored twice in the opening 15 minutes of play. Senior back Carla Johl (Hamilton, New Zealand) finally put the Golden Flashes on the board in the 25th minute. Johl, who scored for the second time in as many games, deflected in a pass from Bell on one of only six penalty corners by Kent State on the day.
The scored stood at 2-1 until Emily Girasole found the back of the cage in the 49th minute off a rebound to extend the Central Michigan lead. The Chippewas continued to keep the pressure on the Golden Flashes defense the next 10 minutes by drawing three corners but the Kent State unit was up to the test turning away each attempt.
The defensive stands help keep the game within striking distance and sophomore Rebecca Lee (Bathurst, Australia) capitalized. Lee cut the margin in half in the 63rd minute scoring her sixth goal of the year off an assist from sophomore Sabrina Binder (Krefeld, Germany) out of a penalty corner.
Central Michigan responded with a quick timeout, but it did little to slow the Kent State charge as Bell tallied the equalizer in the 67th minute. The Chippewas drew yet another corner opportunity in the closing minutes, but freshman goalie Jahna Jordan (Fallbrook, Calif.) made her third consecutive and one of five second half saves, to send the game into the first extra period.
Neither team was able to break through in the first 15 minute overtime period, but Bell delivered for Kent State 1:11 into the second overtime. She now has 24 career game-winning goals amongst her 90 career scores that lead all active leading players in the nation.
The Golden Flashes travel to Ohio next Friday for a 3:00 pm contest then return home to face Missouri State on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1:00 pm.
