Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Junior Alyssa Houck scored in the 99th minute to lift the Lindenwood Lions over Nebraska-Kearney, 2-1 (OT), Sunday afternoon in St. Charles, Mo.
With the extra session win, LWU improves to 5-3-1 (2-1-0) while UNK drops to 3-6-1 (0-3-0).
The Lopers outshot the Lions, 13-9, but could get only one ball past junior keeper Mary McGilvray. She made five saves, including one in the 97th minute on a shot taken by freshman
McKenzie Nabity (Millard South H.S.).
A little over two minutes later, Houck recorded the game winner, her second goal of the game. She scored after taking a pass from teammate Tayler Heinemeier. In the 64th minute, Houck broke a scoreless tie on goal assisted by Autumn Olendorff.
UNK tied things up 10 minutes later when sophomore
Kelsie Ienn (Papillion-LaVista H.S.) tallied an unassisted goal. That is her third career goal and her team-leading second of the season.
"Another very good performance by our team where we wind up losing. It's tough when you play well enough to win and wind up losing," said UNK head coach
John Maessner. "It could be worse. We could've gotten outplayed and outmatched and lost. We have a lot of belief in ourselves and understand nothing worthwhile comes easy."
Both teams had two corners with UNK committing six more fouls, 10-4. The Lopers out shot LWU 5-2 in the first half and 7-5 over the next 45 minutes.
Individually, Lincoln freshman
Skylar Taylor (three) and California freshman
Audrey Barrera (two) led the Lopers in shots with Missouri freshman
Emily Thuss (three saves) earning her first career start in goal.
Finally, Thuss was one of five Kearney players to go all 100 minutes. That group included Ienn and Omaha sophomore
Sami Stock.
"There is plenty of time in this (MIAA) race to finish well. I wouldn't want to coach any team we've played this year. I like our chances. It's a very talented group that still has some surprises up its sleeve," said Maessner.
UNK hosts Missouri Western State (Friday) and NW Missouri State (Sunday) next weekend.
