KENT, Ohio - The Kent State women's soccer team (7-5-1, 3-2-1 MAC) proved Sunday afternoon that it has a panache for coming back, as the Golden Flashes recovered from a two-goal deficit against Western Michigan to post a 2-2 draw against the Broncos.
"I really like that we are capable of a lot of great things, and we are showing that in how we play at this point in the season," said head coach Rob Marinaro. "In the first half we got behind the eight ball, but to come back from two goals down... we have to take a lot of pride in that."
Similar to its 2-1 win over Northern Illinois Friday, Kent State upped the drama ante by scoring the game-tying goal in the waning moments of regulation. Junior Kelly Heaton (Mississauga, Ontario) found the back of the net in the 88th minute to force extra time for the Kent State's second straight outing, but neither team could convert in the final period. Heaton scored when she flipped a shot following a long throw-in by Megan Repas (Avon, Ohio) and a touch by Catharine Marosszeky (Aurora, Ontario).
Annie Messer (Dayton, Ohio) scored her first goal of the season early in the 51st minute to get Kent State on the board out of the halftime intermission. Messer's goal was courtesy of a 28-yard blast on the right side.
Western Michigan (5-6-2, 2-3-1 MAC) had a 2-0 lead in the 25th minute when Kelsey Carmichael was the benefactor of a takeover play on the left side by Caitlin Henderson and Megan Matula. Carmichael headed in Henderson's cross for the second goal of the half for the Broncos, as Nikolette Rivera's rebound shot in the 17th minute opened the game's scoring.
Kent State kept the Broncos under near constant barrage in the second half, out-shooting Western Michigan 11-2 in the stanza and 28-11 for the game. Marosszeky had seven shots, with many coming on multiple free kick opportunities. Western Michigan was whistled for 23 fouls, including 14 in the second half while Kent State pressed offensively.
The Flashes had multiple chances in the first half to get on the board, but the Broncos' Sarah Phillips kept the sheet clean. In the 32nd minute, Vanessa Salerno (Etobicoke, Ontario) had a diving header on a free kick, but Phillips' dive to save was just as spectacular. Then, in the 40th minute, L.A. Thoma (Alliance, Ohio) got behind the defense on the left side, but Phillips also gathered in her try.
As the second half progressed and with Kent State eager to find the equalizer, the Flashes' chances created fervor for the crowd despite the autumnal weather. In the 75th minute, Kellyn Flanagan (Medina, Ohio) had a shot skip just inches over the crossbar off a throw-in play at the near post, while Messer's 40-yard free kick in the 77th minute was denied by the far post.
Kent State had one last chance in regulation to score, but Messer's flicking shot from inside the goal box somehow sailed high.
The first overtime period provided chances for both teams, but neither could come to fruition. In the 95th minute, a Kent State miscue left goalkeeper Kelly Sherwood (Strongsville, Ohio) outside of her box. Western Michigan's Carmichael got the ball and had a look at an open goal, but her shot went wide right.
Then, in the 99th minute, Salerno broke through the Western Michigan back line on a serve by Repas. Western's Phillips slid out to stop the ball with her hands, but was unable to gather the ball cleanly. Unfortunately for Salerno, she couldn't apply the breaks and screeched by the ball, unable to get a shot.
In the second overtime session, Kent State's Flanagan was able to turn the corner on the left side and dribble in for a one-on-one with Phillips, but the Western Michigan goalkeeper made the last of her 12 saves.
On the other end, Sherwood made three saves on the day for Kent State.
Kent State is back in action Friday, Oct. 16 when the soccer team plays its Centennial Cup contest at Bowling Green. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.
Courtesy: Daniel Doherty 
