.png&width=22&height=22&type=webp)
Ball State
Roberts Penalty Kick Goal Lifts Women's Soccer Over Ball State In Overtime, 2-1
10/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
KATIE ROBERTS POST MATCH INTERVIW
ANGEL HART POST MATCH INTERVIEW
BUFFALO, NY – Senior forward Katie Roberts had a flair for the dramatic on Friday night in front of the home fans at UB Stadium as she buried the game-winning penalty kick goal in the first overtime to lift UB over Ball State, 2-1. The penalty kick goal for Roberts was her second goal of the game and her fifth game-winning marker of the season.
UB improves to 11-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the MAC with the win while Ball State falls to 9-5-2 overall and 5-4-0 in MAC play. With the win, the Bulls extended their conference unbeaten streak to nine matches (7-0-2) and currently sit in first place in the MAC east with 23 points. The Bulls can clinch the MAC regular season title with a win over the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Sunday afternoon at noon at UB Stadium.
"The girls showed a lot of poise today as they didn't allow themselves to get rattled after going down 1-0," said head coach Shawn Burke. "We played well and had the will to fight back and earn a well deserved three points. The play of Katie Roberts, Celina Carrero and Angel Hart was simply amazing tonight."
With the momentum and the wind at their back to start the overtime period, still knotted at one, the Bulls knew they needed to jump out quick and that is exactly what they did. In the 92nd minute of action, the tenacious Buffalo attack earned a penalty kick after a shot was knocked down with a hand in the 18-yard box by a Ball State defender. With the game on the line, Roberts calmly stepped up and buried the ball in the low right corner of the goal to give UB the 2-1 win in front of the home crowd.
The win for UB was their second overtime victory of the season with Roberts netting the game-winning goal in both contests. Roberts won the game for Buffalo over Ohio, 1-0, in double overtime earlier this year. UB also improves to 6-0-1 on their home pitch this season.
The Cardinals opened up the scoring in the contest in the 44th minute of play as the Ball State forward and Laura Dougall had a collision in the box that was called as a foul on Dougall, awarding the Cardinals with a penalty kick. On the ensuing PK, Orla Travers-Gillespie beat a diving Dougall to the right corner of the net to give her squad the 1-0 lead heading to the locker room for halftime.
However, the Bulls offense came alive in the second half as they began creating chances all over the field. Following a great defensive play by Jackie Hall to save a goal with a blocked shot on an empty net, the Bulls transitioned and Celina Carrero took a blast of a shot that was barely tipped over the top of the net by the Ball State keeper.
Less than five minutes later, Roberts nearly tied the game for the Bulls with a shot from 25-yards out that rang off the cross bar and out, keeping the score 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
The Bulls luck however changed in the 70th minute as Roberts finally was awarded for her hard play with a pretty goal. Andrea Niper started the play for the Bulls as she headed the ball forward and then found a streaking Carrero down the right sideline. Carrero beat a pair of defenders and placed a perfect cross into the box to Roberts' feet and she deposited the ball in the back of the net, beating the lunging keeper to the low left corner of the goal.
The unsung hero for the Bulls was senior captain Megan Giesen, who won nearly every header for UB from start to finish in the middle of the field. Giesen's relentless effort in the midfield for the Bulls helped created numerous offensive opportunities for the UB attack.
With a pair of goals tonight, Roberts moved into 10th place in program history for goals in a career with 20. She also currently sits in 12th place on the all-time points list with 47.
Once again, the back line for the Bulls stood strong and limited the Cardinals to only three shots on goal for the contest. It marked the 11th time this season that the UB defense has limited the opposing team to five shots on goal or less. Leading the way tonight were Hall and Angel Hart. That duo played all 92 minutes and battled hard to protect the UB net, allowing just a penalty kick goal for the game.
Roberts led all players with five shots while Carrero finished with three shots and her fourth assist of the season. Julia Benati, Giesen and Niper each finished with two shots in the victory for the Bulls.
In goal, Dougall finished off her night with three saves while her counterpart was asked to make seven in the losing effort. Dougall improved to 11-1-3 and owns a goals-against average of 0.38 and a save percentage of .910 for the season.
For the game, UB held the 19-10 advantage in shots including the dominant 11-5 edge in the second half. The Cardinals held the 5-3 advantage in corner kicks in the loss.
Following the match, Roberts was awarded the "Player of the Match" award by the UB coaching staff after another dominant offensive effort for the Bulls with a pair of markers and the game-winning tally. Roberts was all over the field as she finished with a game-high five shots including three on goal for the Bulls.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH (Through 16 games)
St. Bonaventure – Jackie Hall
Canisius - Angel Hart
Duquesne – Sophie Therien
Drexel – Courtney Mann
Niagara – Jackie Hall
#3 Virginia Tech – Ashley Evans and Courtney Mann
Cornell - Julia Benati
Kent State - Katie Roberts
Ohio – Alex Lambert
Bowling Green – Kassidy Kidd
Eastern Michigan – Celina Carrero
Northern Illinois – Kassidy Kidd
Western Michigan - Andrea Niper
Central Michigan – Courtney Mann
Toledo – Jackie Hall
Ball State – Katie Roberts
The Bulls will return to the pitch on Sunday, October 26 at noon as they will play host to MAC foe Miami (OH) at UB Stadium. Sunday's match will also be senior day for eight UB players.
