Sam Houston State's Madison Cannon provided the golden goal with four minutes remaining in the second overtime, helping the Bearkats best McNeese State, 2-1 on Friday night in Lake Charles, giving the squad its fourth victory in five matches.
For just over 70 minutes, the squads sat deadlocked, thanks to strong performances from each goalkeeper in fending off an eventual combined 39 shots. Then, in the 73rd minute, Allie Johnson notched her third goal of the season, assisted by Cannon, to put the Kats up 1-0.
With the win in their grasps and 26 seconds remaining, McNeese (4-6, 1-3 Southland) struck even on a breakaway goal from Sarah Ortiz, eventually sending the match to overtime.
“It was a good job by the team to earn a win in overtime after giving up the late goal,” eighth-year head coach Tom Brown said. “McNeese State did a good job of putting pressure on us all game and obviously fought hard to the end. The team is in great spirits and we hope to put in a great effort on Sunday.”
In the first 10 minute frame, both defense clamped down, and neither squad recorded a shot. In the second, the Kats (6-4-1, 3-1 SLC) and Cowgirls took a combined six shots, including four from Sam Houston, with Cannon's second goal of the season moving the Kats to 4-1 on the road.
The Bearkats recorded a season-high 13 shots on goal and scored a pair of goals for the third time this season. Senior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton's seven saves were second most for the Kats and marked the eighth time in 11 games Sam Houston has allowed one goal or less.
Lindsey Bienski, Mariah Titus and Shelby McDaniel each logged three shots on goal while a total of nine Bearkats took shots, including McDaniel's six. The Cowgirls took three corner kicks to the Kats one and had one more foul than Sam Houston at 11-10.
Sam Houston returns to action Sunday at Lamar. First kick from the LU Soccer Complex is slated for 1 p.m. between the Bearkats and Cardinals.
