Yellowjackets Fall to No. 23 Embry-Riddle in OT (October 25, 2002)

BILLINGS, MT – The MSU Billings women’s soccer team had the 23^rd-ranked team in NAIA on the ropes for most of Friday afternoon’s match, but the Yellowjackets let a 2-0 halftime lead slip away before losing 3-2 in overtime.

MSU Billings dominated the first half with physical play that had the visiting Eagles frustrated. Yellowjackets Sara Otis and Stephanie Clark were seemingly all over the field, disrupting the ERU offense and igniting the Yellowjackets to an 11-7 first half shot advantage.

The first shot came just 11 seconds into the match as Kelly Bryn drove past defenders and beat the goalkeeper one-on-one for her team-leading fourth goal of the season. MSUB wasted little time finding the net for a second time as Otis beat the goalkeeper one-on-one after Heidi Robertson threaded a pass through the defense to free her.

With a 2-0 lead the Yellowjackets kept up the pressure, firing another five shots-on-goal in the opening 45 minutes. MSUB was unable to capitalize on the opportunities, however, and went to intermission with the 2-0 lead.

In the second half the Yellowjackets played more conservatively, and it eventually cost them. Instead of keeping the pressure on a clearly frustrated Eagles team that had received two first-half yellow cards, MSU Billings elected to attempt to burn the clock with conservative play.

Embry-Riddle made the most of the situation. The Eagles entered the match having scored 25 of their 39 season goals in the second halves of games. That pattern held true Friday as ERU found the net twice in the final 39 minutes to force overtime.

Nicole Johnston started the Eagles’ scoring in the 51^st minute with a 45-yard shot from the right sideline that sailed over the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Cori Russell and just below the cross-bar. Lisa Lundgren then scored on a put-back after Abby Odom’s shot hit the right post, tying the game at 2-2 in the 82^nd minute.

In the overtime period, the Yellowjackets put the pressure on the Eagles for about the first two minutes, but were unable to create a good scoring opportunity. ERU then pushed the ball down the field and Lundgren’s shot in traffic found the upper right hand corner of the goal for the game winner in the 92nd minute.

Embry-Riddle improved to 12-3-1 on the season while MSU Billings fell to 2-13. The Yellowjackets will host Carroll College in the season finale on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Yellowjacket Field at the COT.