THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Illinois 0, Southern Illinois 0 (2OT)
@SIUE 3, Belmont 3 (2OT)
EASTERN ILLNOIS 0, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois senior goalkeeper Sara Teteak turned away seven Southern Illinois shots on Thursday afternoon as the Panthers picked up a 0-0 draw with the Salukis. It was the 18th career shutout for Teteak and the third of the 2019 season.
EIU is now 3-7-2 on the season. SIU is 4-8-2.
A majority of the match was played with each team countering the other on an overcast day at Lakeside Field. Madison Bennion had a good shot opportunity in the first half that Teteak turned away, one of two first half saves.
The Panthers back line also helped keep the ball out of the net collecting two blocks on shots near the top of the box as Lindsey Carlson, Rachel Pappas, Annette Gomez-Gonzalez and Victoria Wharton all helped EIU post its second straight clean sheet.
EIU finished with two shots on goal with 11 total shot opportunities. Nicoletta Anuci had a break late in the first half for the first EIU shot on goal. Pilar Barrio fired in a low shot in the second overtime session that Salukis keeper Dariana Mihalache laid out to the right side of the net to turn away.
SIU would have 15 shots in the match. Bennion and Madison Meiring had two shots on goal each for SIU.
SIUE 3, BELMONT 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - After an hour and a half lightning delay and being down 2-0 following the first half, the Belmont women's soccer team climbed its way back to finish in a 3-3 tie over SIUE on Thursday night at Korte Stadium.
The tie gives the Bruins one point in the OVC standings, still putting them ahead of SIUE.
With Belmont playing its first game in rain since Aug. 25 against Lipscomb, SIUE was quick to be the offensive aggressor. SIUE's Mackenzie Litzsinger scored in the 14th minute off an assist from Angel Ikeda to give the Cougars the opening goal.
20 minutes later, the Cougars doubled its lead with another goal. Litzsinger gave a pass to Lily Schnieders, allowing SIUE to take a 2-0 that carried over into the locker room.
The Bruins, however, scrapped for offensive opportunities in the second half and capitalized off a free kick in the 55th minute. After the ball bounced around the penalty area, Paige Hewitt knocked it in the back of the net for her second goal of the season and cut the deficit 2-1.
Seven minutes of play passed before a lightning bolt was spotted and the match went into an hour and a half delay. While Belmont's offensive momentum was temporarily taken away, the Bruins attempted to keep the energy going in the locker room.
With music being blasted, dance competitions taking place, and the coaches giving them a challenge to all step up to the plate, the Bruins jumped out of the delay and picked the momentum right where they left it.
Cason was determined to at least end the match in a tie within the next seven minutes, with an NCAA rule stating that games can be called after 70 minutes if another lightning delay is in effect. The Franklin, Tenn., native did exactly that, scoring her first goal of the season, and her first since Oct. 7, 2017, in the 66th minute off an assist from Julie Garstto to tie the match 2-2.
SIUE's Andrea Freker responded four minutes later, scoring an unassisted goal that allowed the Cougars to regain the lead.
Following a foul on SIUE, sophomore Rachel Vernon looked to capitalize off a free kick. Vernon floated a ball inside the penalty box, allowing freshman Claire Fallon to come up with the header in the back of the net and tie the match with six minutes left to play in regulation.
The Bruins' defense turned up the intensity in the overtime, not allowing an SIUE shot on goal during that stretch. Keeping the ball out of the Cougars' possession, Belmont managed to force its third tie of the season.