Marquette University Athletics
Women's Soccer Rallies to Beat Charlotte, 3-2
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 17, 2003
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MILWAUKEE - Down 2-0 at halftime, Marquette (8-6-1, 5-2 C-USA) made a furious second-half comeback to defeat Charlotte (3-11-1, 2-4-1 C-USA), 3-2, in double overtime at Valley Fields. The Golden Eagles scored three times in the final 31 minutes for the win.
Freshman forward Beth McGill was instrumental in the Marquette comeback. She scored the Golden Eagles' first goal in the 72nd minute, pounding home an eight yard shot after Charlotte keeper Shannon Huffman attempted to clear a cross. The goal was the third for McGill, which leads the team.
McGill added an assist 10 minutes later on a goal by freshman defender Ashley George. McGill sent a cross to the far post that George hit into the upper right of the goal from 10 yards out.
"I think at some point it was destined for things to come together," head coach Markus Roeders said. "Beth McGill's goal was terrific. Ashley George's goal was terrific. Being down 2-0, we never counted ourselves out. They worked very hard to get this result and gave everything they had."
Senior midfielder Kristen Jensen scored the winner on a free kick from 17 yards out. The kick was intended to bend around the Charlotte wall. Fortunately for Marquette, it clipped the upper corner of the wall and deflected past Huffman and into the upper corner of the net.
"What a great comeback," Roeders said. "I wouldn't necessarily call this our best played soccer, but it was certainly one of our greatest comebacks in history. I couldn't be happier for the team right now."
Charlotte had a two-goal lead 25 minutes in. Megan Terlip started the scoring action in the 11th minute when she bent a 30-yard shot into the near corner of the goal. Her knuckleball started to go far post, sending Marquette keeper Katie Bissen that direction, but halfway to the net it came back near post, putting Bissen out of position.
Courtney Crandell scored in the 25th minute on a free kick. Her 24-yard attempt hit the crossbar in the center of the goal. It came down and hit Bissen in the back and deflected into the net.
The Golden Eagles launched 12 shots on goal, scoring a season high three times. Huffman made one save while defender Tiffany Ross stopped a shot off the foot of Marquette senior midfielder Anne Ioder that was headed toward an empty net in the 29th minute.
"We've been creating opportunities all season and finally we are finishing them," Roeders said. "Maybe we were fortunate that the free kick was deflected. But we've had this (losing in overtime) happen to us a couple of times this year, it was finally our turn to get one."
Marquette returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. at Valley Fields against East Carolina.
