CHARLESTON, Ill. –
Rachel Hamilton and
Kathleen Hayes both scored a first-half goal off an assist from
Alexis Miller, but Western Illinois tied the game in the final minute of regulation to salvage a 2-2 draw against Eastern Illinois women's soccer Friday afternoon at Lakeside Field.
Kaylin Lorbert came through big in goal for the Panthers, making eight saves in just her second collegiate start.
The goals for both Hamilton and Hayes were their second of the season and fourth and seventh on their careers, respectively. Hamilton tied the game in the 28th minute from the center of the field at about 12 yards out after Miller's initial shot deflected off a WIU defender.
“It was an absolutely big-time performance by [Hamilton],” EIU head coach
Tim Nowak said. “I hope that she can continue that performance through her college career. That's the standard for her now. She had a very dangerous mentality today and that's going to help her as she goes along.”
Hayes then put EIU ahead seven minutes later on a header at the far post following a corner kick by Miller. The senior has now scored on consecutive Fridays at Lakeside Field after going her entire junior campaign without a goal.
Miller's two-assist performance was the first of her career.
It looked as though Hayes' score would prove to be the game-winner until Aimee St. Andre headed in a cross at point-blank range with just 45 seconds remaining in the contest.
Western took an early lead in the contest on a goal in the fifth minute from Bess Rapp.
Besides Lorbert,
Jenny Bock,
Ashley Slota,
Meghan Ryon and Hayes all played the entire 110 minutes. #Cassie Shear led the reserves with 53 minutes of game action, the majority of which came in the first half.
Bock made a pair of key defensive plays late in the first half to preserve EIU's halftime lead. The senior arrived just in time to breakup a semi-breakaway for Ashley Hoch with a perfectly-time slide tackle. Then about four minutes later, Bock cleared a free ball off the goal line after it had been initially headed toward the net by Rapp.
“
Jenny Bock has been playing tough,” Nowak said. We're still working on some things with her, but her effort and her will is there to compete, and that's what we want, everybody willing to compete.”
Lorbert's top save of the day came in the 33rd minute when she dove to her left and knocked a shot out of bounds at the far post.
“She can make big plays, no one has ever doubted of what Kaylin is capable of doing,” Nowak said. “It's just experience, and she got a whole lot of it today. She'll be ready when her number is called again, no doubt about it.”
Miller and Hamilton both got off good shots in the first overtime period but neither ended up forcing the goalkeeper to make a play. Miller's bounced wide left and Hamilton was deflected by a WIU defender.
The Panthers will be back in action Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest at Loyola.
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Ben Turner, Asst. SID
