Marquette University
USF
Golden Eagles Prevail over USF in Overtime
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2008
TAMPA, Fla. -
Sophomore Ashley Bares' goal in the 99th minute was all the Marquette women's soccer team needed to defeat USF in overtime in Tampa, Fla., Friday evening. The win snaps MU's two-game skid as it improves to 5-3-0 overall, 1-0-0 in BIG EAST play, while the Bulls fall to 3-2-2 (0-1-0) on the season.
"This is an excellent win for our squad in a tough environment," said head coach Markus Roeders. "We had long stretches were we dominated play and I am glad our team got rewarded for itsr hard work. We pushed the ball forward for most of the match, specifically in the last 30 minutes and overtime. I think our depth and conditioning wore USF down and the goal was just a matter of time. USF hasn't allowed many goals this season, so we knew it was not going to be easy. We are glad to prevail and earn our first BIG EAST Conference win. Our back line of Kulla, Kelly, Cusick, Alli McBride, Miller and Vasos was excellent and they provided the backbone for us to attack."
MU's golden goal at the 98:24 mark came off a service by junior Michelle Compty that sophomore Lauren Acree misdirected on the far side of the 18-yard box. Bares was there to collected it, beat a USF defender and send her shot past goalkeeper Mallori Lofton-Malachi from 12 yards out. It was her first goal of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Kulla pitched in a two-save shutout for the 98:24 in net, while the Golden Eagles owned 22-6 shots advantage. Twelve of those attempts were on goal. The overtime victory is Kulla's third of the season.
Sophomores Rosie Malone-Povolny, Julia Victor and Acree each had an opportunity to score in the first 22 minutes of the game, but were denied by USF keeper Lofton-Malachi. Marquette kept on its attack and was able to create several more chances before the end of the first 45-minute period.
It was much of the same for the Golden Eagles in the second half as they continued to fire off shot after shot, but all proved to be unlucky. Malone-Povolny, Bares, Victor, Wepking, junior Michelle Compty, and freshman Rachel Sloan accounted for MU's 10 shots in the second half.
In the closing minutes of regulation, Bares had two quality opportunities from inside the box that were saved by Lofton-Malachi. Lofton-Malachi was credited with 11 saves for the game.
"USF's goalkeeper played a great match and without some of her saves, we could have scored another couple of goals," said Roeders.
The Golden Eagles will be back in action Sunday at Valley Fields to host Pepperdine at 2:15 p.m. The match against Pepperdine is the second of a Marquette soccer doubleheader as the men's team will play No. 5 St. John's at 12:05 p.m.
