INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team got its first conference point of the 2007 campaign, playing Oral Roberts to a 1-1 double overtime tie at Kuntz Stadium on a chilly Friday evening. Sophomore Katrina McCrory gave IUPUI its first home goal of the season, helping the Jags escape the 1-1 deadlock through 110 minutes.
IUPUI had been shutout in its previous five home matches.
"Kat's goal was huge, but Jamie (Farrell) made some unbelievable saves to keep us in the game," IUPUI head coach Chris Johnson said. "Their quickness in the midfield gave us some problems along the back line. They were beating us to the ball and getting in behind us early.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Farrell was the victim of a bad break early, but redeemed herself en route to an 11-save night. In the game's sixth minute, an IUPUI defender was unable to clear the ball out of the box, turning it over to the Golden Eagles. The turnover proved costly as ORU's Lorena Soto was able to flare a shot over an out of position Farrell for the game's first goal. It was Soto's second score of the season.
ORU's Natalya Manyan nearly made it 2-0 in the 34th minute, but found her try thwarted by defender Lisa Gebhard. Manyan put a shot on net against a sliding Farrell beyond the six yard box, that continued to trickle toward the end line. Gebhard came streaking into the play and deflected the sure goal off the post before a teammate was able to clear the zone.
"We've talked to the girls about finding winning moments within games," Johnson said. "Lisa absolutely found a winning moment right there. It was an unbelievable play.
"We told the girls at halftime that we can't waste plays like that from their teammates."
McCrory made it stand in the 60th minute, thanks to a setup from seniors Sheri Levack and Angie Pilat . Levack sent a lead pass to Pilat, running up the right side of the field in front of the ORU (6-5-2, 1-1-2 Summit League) bench. Pilat then spotted McCrory straight away, beyond the 18-yard box.
She lofted a shot just over the head of ORU goalkeeper Stef Gurley for her first goal of the season and fourth of her collegiate career.
Correne Walker nearly gave ORU the lead in the 70th minute, but had her attempt rifle off the right post.
In the first overtime, both goalkeepers made tremendous diving stops to keep the tie intact. Farrell was first, making a fingertip stop of a Jessica Harthcock shot in the 92nd minute. Later, IUPUI (1-9-3, 0-3-1 Summit League) sophomore Leslie Walker played a rebond volley on net, forcing Gurley to make a diving stop.
IUPUI's best chance in the second overtime came when freshman Amanda Snyder sent a cross to MaryBeth McMillan at the far post, who's header went just wide of net.
Both teams attempted 22 shots on the evening with ORU owning a 12-4 edge in shots on goal and 4-3 corner kick advantage. McMillan led IUPUI with five shot attempts as IUPUI outshot ORU 8-2 in the two overtime periods.
"We're continuing to grow and mature, but we have no more time to take steps back," Johnson said.
IUPUI continues conference play on Sunday when it hosts Centenary at Kuntz Stadium at noon.
