TULSA, Okla. - Following a thrilling victory at Southern Utah on Thursday, Western Illinois (7-8, 1-5) women's soccer lost to Oral Roberts (6-8-1, 3-2) on the road in double-overtime, 2-1.
Kristin Kuhar put Western on the board with a shot from midfield that bounced over the goalkeeper's head in the ninth minute for her first goal of the season.
"It was a long shot and she found the upper 90," said assistant coach Mariana Sanchez. "She hit the ball at the exact right moment and it found the back of the net."
Oral Roberts' Whitney Booth scored in the 74th minute to tie the match at a goal apiece.
Freshman goalkeeper Victoria Kappel made two crucial saves in the 83rd minute to keep the score tied at 1-1 as the Golden Eagle attack gained momentum.
"We knew when we scored first we had a lot of confidence," continued Sanchez. "We had our chances to score again but Oral Roberts did a great job defending from then on."
The Purple & Gold were able to stifle that momentum and end regulation with the score tied at 1-1. It would be Western's first overtime affair of 2011 and ORU's second as it tied North Texas 2-2 earlier this season in double-overtime.
Kellie Julius forced the Golden Eagles goalkeeper, Helen Erb, to make a save just 45 seconds into the first overtime period.
Kuhar nearly ended the game with her second goal of the afternoon as Erb was again forced to save the day in the 92nd minute.
Kappel made her sixth and final save of the day in the 95th minute as Maria Grados looked to give her team the win with a shot on goal.
The two teams were unable to end the match in first ten extra minutes moving the game into the second overtime period.
A yellow card on Western to begin the second overtime period awarded a penalty kick to ORU. Maria Grados converted and secured the 2-1 victory for the Golden Eagles.
"It was an unlucky and a tough way to end the game," stated Sanchez. "Overtimes are so intense because one goal ends it. Each overtime period is like its own miniature game. We ended the first overtime period and we were playing really well and were confident we could finish with a win. In the second period we did not even get a chance to play our game."
The Leathernecks will return to Macomb for four straight at MacKenzie Alumni Field beginning with Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
Goal Summary
Western Illinois
8:12 - Kristin Kuhar scores as she shot from midfield and it bounced over the goalkeeper's head.
Oral Roberts
73:54 - Whitney Booth is assisted by Jennifer Abernathy.
100:31 - Maria Grados converted a penalty kick.
