CEDAR CITY, Utah - Western Illinois (7-7, 1-4) women's soccer was attempting to end a five-game losing streak at Southern Utah (2-8-3, 0-4). With help from a Amber Davis header in the 87th minute, the Leathernecks did just that with a 3-2 win.
"It was a long trip yesterday but that did not make us tired," said assistant coach Mariana Sanchez. "We were actually tired of not winning so our mentality was coming in here strong and playing like this was our field. We knew it was going to be a fight but our girls wanted it more."
The Thunderbirds struck quickly as Elyse Osborne found Stacey Brinkman with a cross from right to left in the seventh minute.
The Leathernecks were quick to answer just a few minutes later as captain Sarah Blaase gathered a deflected ball inside the box and finished past a diving goalkeeper to tie the match at 1-1. The goal ended a scoring drought of over 250 minutes as the Purple & Gold's last goal came at UMKC.
Amber Davis headed in a Nora Potempa corner kick in the 20th minute to give the Purple & Gold its first lead since the UMKC game.
Southern Utah answered with another goal from Brinkman, this one in the 35th minute to even the score at 2-2.
With time running out, Potempa took a corner kick and Davis found the back of the net again with her head in the 87th minute to give the Leathernecks a 3-2 lead.
Western would survive the final minutes and win its first match since Sept. 18 and its first ever win at Southern Utah.
"Both of Amber's goals were off corner kicks and throughout the game we were very organized and those two goals are evidence of that," stated Sanchez. "Nora Potempa played really well tonight. Both of her corner kicks were right on target and Amber was in the right spot doing what she needed to do and that's finishing."
Freshman goalkeeper Victoria Kappel made three saves to earn her seventh victory as a Leatherneck.
"It was fun to watch those girls tonight," continued Sanchez. "They were having so much fun and playing with such passion. We played really smart and it was a fun atmosphere."
The Leathernecks will travel to Tulsa, Okla. to face Oral Roberts on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Goal Summary
Southern Utah
6:46 - Stacey Brinkman scores after Elyse Osborne finds her with a cross and finishes near post.
34:04 - Stacey Brinkman heads in a Riley Bassett pass.
Western Illinois
9:45 - Sarah Blaase gathers a deflected shot in the box, finishes past diving goalkeeper.
19:27 - On a Nora Potempa corner kick, Amber Davis heads in the second goal of the day for the leathernecks.
87:44 - Amber Davis scores off a Nora Potempa corner kick. Header.
