HOUSTON, Texas - Not even 110 minutes was enough for either team to find the winning goal. Celts had a slight advantage in possession, but it was the Pilots who got on the scoreboard first. LSUA's quick counterattack on the right side produced a goal by Cunningham that lifted the Pilots. Each team had 4 total shots with two on goal. UST's Mariah Escobar (SR/Houston, TX) and Alexa Noyola (SR/Houston, TX) had one shot on goal each in the first half.
The second half produced more initiative for the Celts, and they outshot Pilots 9 to 2 in the attempts that were on target. Rachael Bell (SR/Houston, TX) led the team in total shots (4) and equaled Narcedalia Yanez (SR/Channelview, TX) and Siobhan Higgins (SR/Katy, TX) in shots on goal with 2.
Finally in 62 minute Celts were rewarded as Narcedalia Yanez took a shot from outside the box and floated the ball over excellent LSUS goalkeeper. Goal by Yanez gave extra energy to the Celts, but the game was far from over.
In 78 minute it was UST goalkeeper Jordan Thompson (SR/Spring, TX), who came in as a substitution in the second half, who made a tremendous double save to keep the Pilots grounded. The best chance in overtime goes to UST, as Katarina Maksimov (JR/Richmond, TX)'s shot from just outside the box floated inches away from the goal.
Head Coach Nikola Barjaktarevic spoke calmly after the game: "We are lucky to be able to play a game like this; postseason type game this early in the conference and a lot of credit goes to LSUS in the way they challenged us tonight. At times we were capable of playing at the high level, but we still can't consistently find our rhythm, both as a team and individually. I hope that we take away something out of this game – and this will be different for each of us." Coach Barjaktarevic continued: "I am pleased with our ability to get the equalizer, even when we are not performing at our absolute best, and continue working hard throughout 110 minutes to find the winning goal. Although we didn't get it tonight, I'm sure the effort will not be in vain."
LSUS finished the game with 8 total shots (4 on goal) while UST had 17 shots (11 on goal). Celts had an edge in corner kicks with 3 to Pilots 1, but in most essential stat teams were equal, as final score reads UST 1 – LSUS 1.
Celts are still undefeated in RRAC with a 2-0-1 record and will be on the road next week, traveling to Hobbs, NM to play College of the Southwest on Thursday. From New Mexico they will go to Dallas, facing off with Paul Quinn College on Saturday.
