FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Kennesaw State women's soccer team played to another 4-3 overtime win against Central Arkansas, this time in the ASUN Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in the FGCU Soccer Complex in Fort Myers, Fla.
FINAL SCORE: Kennesaw State - 4 | Central Arkansas - 3
KEY PERFORMERS: Macie Rainwater - first career hat trick; Tianna Rivera - game-winning golden goal in overtime; Kendall Higgs - two assists; Dylan Pixton - six saves
"UCA are a really good team," said head coach Benji Walton. "They're going to score goals. They've scored goals all year long. I'm just proud we didn't give up and we fought them. I'm proud of our team for not bending just because the game wasn't going their way."
Just like the previous matchup between the two teams, the first half opened as a back-and-forth affair.
The Owls swung momentum in their favor just before the halftime whistle, with Macie Rainwater's shot getting blocked on the edge of the 18-yard box. The freshman put her left boot through her own rebound, blasting a shot to the right post and putting the Owls up 1-0.
It seemed like it was game over when Becky Contreras busted out a bicycle kick over her head to put Rainwater in acres of space. The newly-minted ASUN All-Freshman composed herself and placed her shot to double the Owls' lead in the 58th minute.
Central Arkansas would not give in however, scoring three straight goals in a span of nine minutes to take a 3-2 lead with 23 minutes left to go.
The Kennesaw State team had no interest in ending its season early, as Kendall Higgs used tenaciousness and bravery to get the ball to the byline. The Floridian took a hard tackle and was brought down, but sprung back up to put a cross into the box. Rainwater was there, volleying in the pass to complete her hat trick and tie the game with 10 minutes left. This marks the first hat trick by an Owl in five years, with Shannon Driscoll last netting a trifecta against Alabama A&M on Aug. 28, 2016.
Walton on Rainwater…
"This could be a pivotal moment in her career. First time I ever saw Macie play in high school, she scored five or six in a game.I knew that she was capable of doing something like that. She really came to life tonight and showed how good of a finisher she is."
The full-time whistle blew, signifying the unfinished business to be decided in overtime. Just like last time out against the Bears, the Owls would deal the decider in the early goings of overtime.
Higgs received the ball in midfield and picked out a beautiful diagonal pass to find Tianna Rivera on the left flank. The sophomore worked the ball on to her left foot, charging a shot past the UCA keeper to advance the Owls into the ASUN Tournament Semifinals.
Kennesaw State will face the winner of the quarterfinal between FGCU and Bellarmine on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.
To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
