PORTSMOUTH – Senior Staci Johnson's goal off a feed from Aubrey Johnson on a set piece in the 105th minute of play propelled Shawnee State to its first win of the 2012 season. The Bears (1-1) have now gone extra time in each of the first two games to start the season and avenged last year's loss to West Virginia Tech (0-2) and reversed their overtime result from the season opener in the process. The win came on a day when the team was raising donations for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
"This was just such a nice win to get today. I truly want to thank everybody that showed up today and supported the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation," said head coach Rob Appell after his team's victory. "Although we still have things that we can work on, there were also a lot of positives to take from today's game. This was definitely a step forward for us as a team."
Although the day ended with the Bears' bench erupting in celebration, the game got off to a rocky start when the Golden Bears' Hannah Pilcher put home the game's first goal just 2:50 into play. That goal came right after a shot that deflected back to her for the put back. The Bears would outshoot West Virginia Tech 10-5 in the opening half and 26-12 for the game, but it wasn't until the 40th minute of play that the Shawnee State would find its equalizer.
With the first half winding down, freshman Elizabeth Abbott, who came on as a sub earlier on in the half, connected for her first goal of her career. Abbott's goal came right after her initial shot was blocked by Bridge Leach in net, but the rebound came right back to her and she finished, sending the game to the half tied at 1-1.
After holding the possession in West Virginia Tech's defensive part of the field for large chunks of time to start the second half, including three shots and two corners kicks in the opening minutes, senior Brittney Brooks, the team's leading goal scorer from a season ago, found the net for the first time this year with her 34th career goal. Her goal came on a perfect strike from 25-30 yards out. Sophomore Molly King was credited with her first career assist for her pass to set up the strike from outside that gave the Bears the lead with just over 30 minutes to play.
However, the Golden Bears would not wait long to tie the game as Creshana Jones found the goal just over four minutes after Brooks had scored, knotting the game at two-all. The Bears held a 14-5 advantage in shots during the second half and got nine shots off after the second goal was scored, but neither goalie would allow anything the remainder of regulation. For Shawnee State, Shelbi Halverson made three stops in regulation to send the game to extra time.
In the first overtime session, nobody could get any shots on goal as the teams were still tied after 100 minutes of play. Neither side was able to get a shot off at all during the first four-plus minutes of the second overtime. A Golden Bear foul would then lead to the game-winning goal from the Johnson connection. Off the set play from Aubrey, she found Staci making a run down the opposite side and hit her in stride to send the Shawnee State fans home on a high note.
In addition to a sizeable shot advantage, the Bears held a 9-3 advantage in corner attempts. However, 10 saves from the Golden Bears' Leach kept them in the game. Jessica Fair led all SSU players with five shots in the game, while Allison Nagle and Abbott both finished with four. Staci Johnson's goal in overtime came on her third shot of the game, second on frame. Bethany Ward also took three shots in this contest.
The Bears will now have just under 48 hours to celebrate and get their legs back for the upcoming home game against Malone College on Thursday at 4 p.m. That match will cap the three-game homestand to start the 2012 season before they head out on the road the next week.
