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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Margaret Woods' overtime goal in the 98th minute gave Xavier University a 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky University on Tuesday night at the NKU Soccer Stadium.
Neither team could get a shot past the other team's defense during regulation. With time quickly ticking down in the first overtime, Woods scored the golden goal for the Musketeers.
A physical play at midfield created the opening for the Xavier (3-3) offense in overtime. Taylor Dearbaugh gained control of the ball for the Musketeers and passed the ball forward to Leslie Twehues, who advanced the ball to Woods.
Woods was able to get her shot off 18 yards out, and the ball deflected off of goalie
Cassie Lingenhoel into the back of the net.
After Xavier controlled much of the possession time in the first half, NKU put the pressure on the Musketeer defense in the second. Both teams finished with 11 shot attempts, but the Norse outshot Xavier 10-3 in the second half.
NKU (1-4) had four opportunities to score in the final 10 minutes of the game but could not find the back of the net.
Kelsey Zwergel gave the Norse its closest chance of the game in the 82nd minute but goalie Katie Markesbery made a diving save for the Musketeers.
Not to be outdone, Lingenhoel kept the Norse in the game when she made a diving save of her own on a Dearbaugh shot attempt less than five minutes later.
“I thought we played pretty well, especially coming off a losing streak,” Zwergel said. “It's hard coming off of 90 minutes to lose in overtime. We just have to come back, and be ready to win next week.”
NKU finished with a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks but were able to only produce one shot in the first half off the opportunities.
Tuesday's match drew a crowd of 1,210 fans, the largest for a women's game since moving into the NKU Soccer Stadium in 2010.
“It is a little nerve racking at first, but once you get used to it, it's fun; especially when they started cheering for us,” Zwergel said of the atmosphere created by the crowd.
It was the second sellout of the season in as many games for the NKU soccer programs. The men's team drew 1,270 for their exhibition match with Kentucky on Aug. 17.
The Norse travel to Murray, Ky., on Sunday afternoon to face Murray State at Cutchin Field. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
