By: by Matthew Farhadi
Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Kennesaw State women’s soccer team won its Atlantic Sun Conference opener in dramatic fashion as junior
Brittany Vining scored the game-winning goal with three seconds left in the match to give the Owls a 2-1 win over the Lipscomb Lady Bisons on Friday night at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex.
The win improves the Owls to 4-3-1 (1-0 A-Sun) for the season, while the loss drops the Lady Bisons to 4-5-0 (0-1 A-Sun) on the year.
With the game tied, and extra time closing in on the Black and Gold, Vining came up big at just the right time. Junior
Alyssa Mahan was pushing the ball forward down the right side of the field, and saw an open Vining streaking down the left side towards the goal. Mahan crossed the ball over to Vining, who settled it down inside the box with one touch, and blasted a shot that slid underneath Lipscomb goalkeeper Erin Zerio into the back of the net to send the whole Owls bench into a frenzied celebration.
After the match, Vining gave her thoughts on the thrilling final play. “All I was thinking was that I wanted to get a good touch,” said Vining, who now has two goals on the season to go along with three assists. “After the ball was on the ground I got my head up and just focused on driving the ball towards goal, and it worked out perfectly.”
The Black and Gold had a sluggish first half with its best scoring opportunity coming in the 30th minute of play. Vining dribbled down the left side, and crossed a ball right to the foot of senior
Savannah Duet, whose shot sailed just high of the net to keep the game scoreless heading into halftime.
Kennesaw State came out much more aggressive in the second half, and it all started with the play of Mahan. Mahan made a nice move to split a pair of Lipscomb defenders and was pulled down inside the box for a penalty kick in the 49th minute.
Freshman
Alma Gardarsdottir converted her second penalty kick in as many matches, beating Lipscomb Zerio on the top right corner to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Gardarsdottir’s two penalty kick goals this season are the most by an Owl since Sara Clapham converted four penalty kicks in 2007.
Lipscomb tied the match in the 89th minute on a goal by Andie Thornton as she beat Kennesaw State goalkeeper
Staci Pugh on her right side in a one-on-one situation.
Just as soon as the Lady Bisons stopped celebrating, Vining gave the Owls a reason to start, scoring the game-winner with three seconds left and giving Kennesaw State a perfect start to its conference play.
Pugh made three saves in the win, with the Black and Gold outshooting Lipscomb 16-8.
The Owls continue conference play as they will stay in Nashville to take on Belmont on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. central time. The two squads last met in the 2009 A-Sun Championship game, with the Owls taking the title, 2-1.
