The Owls dropped their first game in Atlantic Sun Conference play 1-0 in double overtime on a wet and dreary Saturday night in Kennesaw against Lipscomb University.
The match remained scoreless until Natalie DuBoise put the ball in the net from close range, scoring the winner after an assist from Paige Miller with just 35 seconds remaining in the match.
The rain came down as referee Arlington Success blew his whistle to get things going at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The wet field made for a very high tempo game, with both teams playing a high press to try to get the ball forward.
The Owls played possession soccer, driving the ball forward whenever possible and attacking at the Bison defense. Khatra Mahdi and Kim Fincher made key contributions down the wings, exploiting space to put pressure on the Lipscomb backline with the former putting possibly the best chance of the night wide after a cross from Fincher.
Defender Abby Roth had a header from a corner saved by Bisons keeper Anna Buhigas on the line, while full back Ida Hepsoe had one shot saved and another flash just wide. “I thought it was two good teams that fought every minute of the game,” KSU head coach Rob King said. “It was an excited one to be involved with, but a little more exciting if we get the winner in overtime. It was a well-played game. At this level, it’s small margins you have put opportunities like that away to win these games.”
Goalkeeper Ashley Zambetti tallied five saves on a night that highlighted two great goalkeeping performances. “She did well, it’s a tough night for goalkeepers the rain makes it hard to gather balls quickly, overall a good night for our keeper,” King said of Zambetti.
The Owls took twenty-two shots to Lipscomb’s twelve, but couldn’t find the killer goal.
“You’ve got to put some away when you’ve got that many shots, we’ll live to fight another day but that would have been a nice one to get started with,” King said.
The match was one that the Owls will want to learn from, but it quickly put behind them as A-Sun play continues this Saturday at 1 p.m. when KSU hosts NJIT.
