Story by Adam Redfern
Staff Writer
aredfern@murraystate.edu
The Racers pulled out a 2-1 win against Indiana University with a game-winning goal from junior Rebecca Kubin in the 81st minute.
The first half was a back-and-forth show with both teams taking a fair share of attempts on goal. Freshman keeper Jenna Villacres kept Indiana scoreless in the first half with three saves against three impressive shots from the Hoosiers.
Freshman Midfielder Lilly Strader gave the Racers the lead with a shot from outside the box which glided over the keeper’s hand and into the top left corner in the 28th minute.
The remainder of the first half was a battle for possession in which neither team could gain control. This battle left the Racers with the lead heading into the second half 1-0.
In the 50th minute a mishandle from Villacres gave the Hoosiers the game-tying goal when the ball flew between her hands and into the back of the net.
In the 69th minute, Villacres managed to save a shot when the Hoosiers played the ball past the Racers’ backline and into open field, placing senior defender Meghan Scott one-on-one with Villacres.
Head Coach Matt Lodge has confidence in the freshman keeper despite the error leading to a goal.
“I would put down the error to nerves,” Lodge said. “We forget that she has been a college player for a total of three weeks. She had a clean sheet against a top-50 team on the road, she had 24 saves the last two games and she kept us in the game Sunday. I told her ‘you will make a mistake and your teammates will drag you through.’”
In the 81st minute freshman midfielder Parker Greer took possession from Indiana and played Kubin into space, which allowed Kubin to pace around the backline of the Hoosiers and score the winner, making the game 2-1.
The Racers will be back in action this Sunday, Sept. 1, at noon in Highland Heights, Kentucky, against Northern Kentucky University.