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MURRAY, Ky. – Alexis Miller bent a corner kick around the goal post for the game-winning goal in the 97th minute of the first overtime period, lifting Eastern Illinois women's soccer to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Murray State in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Tuesday afternoon at Cutchin Field.
Pam Melinauskas also provided some heroics, scoring the game-tying goal with five minutes and 18 seconds remaining in regulation. Goalkeeper Jenny Williams came up big as well, finishing with six saves.
With the victory, the Panthers advance to the semifinal round where they will match-up with second-seeded Samford for a final time as conference rivals. Kickoff Friday in Cape Girardeau, Mo. is slated for 4 p.m.
“It was a great team effort; I was really proud of how we stayed focused for the entire game,” EIU head coach
Tim Nowak said. “We picked up the tempo after going down 1-0 and didn't quit. We worked hard the entire game and got rewarded with a win. It was a really great performance in a great, post-season atmosphere. Our players know what that's about and our experience really showed today. We did the things we needed to do, but we can still be better. But it was a pretty good performance on the road.”
The overtime victory was EIU's first in the OVC Tournament since defeating Southeast Missouri in 1999. Additionally, it was the program's first OT victory on the road since winning at Tennessee-Martin in October of 2005.
Miller joined
Michelle Steinhaus,
Kathleen Hayes and
Rachel Hamilton as current Panthers with an overtime goal on their résumés. This marked the second time this season the sophomore scored with a corner kick. She first accomplished the feat in the October win against Austin Peay. Wednesday's goal was Miller's fourth of the season.
Melinauskas scored her second goal of the year with a blast from about 20 yards out. Though it was ruled unassisted, Nowak said Steinhaus helped set up the score. The senior knocked down a cross, which led to a scramble inside the 18-yard box. Eventually a loose ball emerged. Melinauskas pounced on it and slipped a shot into the bottom corner of the net to the right of the goalkeeper
The goals for both Miller and Melinauskas were the first of their careers in postseason play.
Murray took a 1-0 lead in the 73rd minute with a goal by Lacey Latimer, who headed in her third score of the year.
Having returned from an injury that sidelined her for most of the season,
AJ Brewer was able to make her second consecutive start next to
Kathleen Hayes in the central midfield. Brewer moved to defender for the second half and ended up playing 88 minutes. Along with Williams, Hayes,
Karisa Brenner and
Ashley Slota also played all 90 minutes.
Jenny Bock led the reserves with 69 minutes.
The Panthers have won at least one game at the OVC Tournament and reached the semifinals of the event every year it has been held (1999-present). Eastern has never lost an OVC Tournament game in a true road environment. EIU also improved to 2-0 against Murray in tournament contests.
While EIU was clearly the road team Tuesday, the Panthers were supported in person by the women of EIU volleyball, who attended the game prior to their evening match against the Racers in nearby Racer Arena.
Eastern and Samford met in the championship match of the OVC Tournament in three straight seasons (2003-05), with EIU winning the first two match-ups. The Bulldogs, however, own a 4-3-1 edge in the all-time series.
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