Box Score CLARKSVILLE - Sophomore Tatiana Ariza scored the gamewinner in
the 103rd minute giving Austin Peay women's soccer team a 1-0,
double-overtime, win against Eastern Illinois, Sunday in Ohio Valley Conference
action.
"That was an exciting finish to the weekend and a crucial
win for us to get three points at home," Lady Govs head coach Kelley Guth said.
"I'm proud of our girls. We're in a tough situation with our numbers the way
they are and these overtime games are physically challenging for our girls."
The win keeps Austin Peay (9-6-1; 3-3-1 OVC) in the hunt for
its second-straight postseason tournament as it currently sits in a tie for
fifth with UT Martin. Eastern Kentucky,
the Lady Govs next opponent, is in second place while Morehead State, the Lady
Govs final opponent, is in eighth place.
"We have a chance right now to determine our own fate," Guth
said. "That's where you want to be when the season winds down. I'm proud of our
girls and how they played this weekend. Now we've got to take care of business in
these final two matches."
Junior Emily Perkins created the attack that resulted in
Ariza's gamewinner. Perkins took the ball at midfield on a run down the center
and passed off to Ariza on a diagonal cut from the right side. Ariza made one
touch and fired across the keeper to win it for the Lady Govs.
Credit the Lady Govs defense for hanging on, despite
allowing four shots in the second overtime period. APSU keeper Haylee Shoaff
made six of her seven saves after halftime. The Lady Govs midfield did the
dirty work in the first half, preventing the Panthers any decent opportunites
by controlling the ball in the center. It wasn't until the 29th
minute did EIU manager its first shot.
The Panthers (5-10-2; 4-4 OVC) used their depth to create
more second-half chances, but the Lady Govs back line denied each time. Shoaff
played strong in net while freshman Taylor Van Wagner and junior Renny Robinson
covered the middle of the field. The Panthers made a late run, putting up four
shots in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but to no avail.
-AP-
