Box ScoreWEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Bulldogs beat the Rangers everywhere but the scoreboard when Northwestern Oklahoma State visited the SWOSU Athletic Complex. A 16 save game by Briana Legaspi helped NWOSU escape with their second draw in conference play this season.
Cori Kelly led the attack for SWOSU, registering 10 shots, tying Courtney Hailey for the second most shots in a single match in program history.
The first period was all Southwestern as the Bulldogs outshot the Rangers 12-3 and forced Legaspi into eight saves. Kelly and
Olivia Butler began the siege on NWOSU's goal almost immediately, each taking a shot that went just left of the post within the first two minutes.
Payton Warren,
Jasmine Heffley and Kelly all forced Legaspi into saves within the first 21 minutes of the match. NWOSU did not register a shot until the 22nd minute.
Kelly continued to press for the opening goal, four shots in six minutes and forcing two saves. Her shot in the 37th minute was SWOSU's best opportunity to take the lead, but the shot clanged off crossbar. Warren and Butler were also able to force the NWOSU keeper into a pair of saves. The whistle blew with the teams knotted up at 0-0.
The second half was a little more closely contested between the two sides. SWOSU still outshot NWOSU 8-6, but the Rangers were able to force
Courtney Flores into a pair of saves. The Bulldogs struggled slightly with the wind in the half, with the majority of their shots sailing over the bar. The clock signaled the end of regulation, and the teams went to overtime to determine a winner.
SWOSU again outshot the Rangers 4-1 in the first overtime period.
Shelley Mueller found an extra gear in the period, torching Pati Iranzo down the right flank, but her crosses found no one in the middle of the area to finish. She also forced Legaspi into a save with a low driven shot. The keeper then sat on the ball, drawing an indirect free kick in the box from seven yards out.
Lauren Williams tapped the ball to
Ashlee Beitinger whose shot was saved after the Rangers packed five players into a wall on the goal line.
Eva Rule collected the rebound, but sent her shot just wide of the post.
Alyssa Bagley took the final shot of the period from distance, but her shot was also saved.
Kelly and
Aimi Mumford got the Bulldogs going in the second overtime, with two shots on goal within the first three minutes. Two minutes later, Mumford found herself with only one person to beat, but a rash foul by NWOSU's Karyn Barnal saw the threat averted. Barnal received a yellow card in the 106th minute for her efforts. Butler and Williams would take SWOSU's final shots of the game, neither one finding the back of the net. The sides would end the game 0-0, with the Rangers never threatening.
Courtney Flores and the backline of
Charlotte Eastman,
Randa Castleberry, Williams and Bagley picked up their second clean sheet of the season. Flores recorded a season low two saves through 110 minutes of action. They held Great American Conference leading scorer Leidiane Capobianco to just one shot.
SWOSU's 28 shots on goal is the seventh highest total for a match in program history. The Bulldogs also put a season high 16 shots on frame. Their four corner kicks was the second highest total of the season, only behind the seven they enjoyed against Harding. NWOSU owned a 21-8 foul count.
The Bulldogs (2-8-2, 2-2-1 GAC) hit the road next week for a pair of conference games against Southern Nazarene and East Central.
