BOX SCORE

RICHMOND, Ky. – In its first game of the 2008 season, the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer team battled cross-state rival Western Kentucky to a 1-1 tie on Sunday in soccer’s version of the Battle of the Bluegrass. WKU (1-0-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) scored off a corner kick at the 72:59 mark, however, the Colonels (0-0-1, 0-0 OVC) responded with an own goal with only six minutes left in regulation to tie the score.

“We battled from start to finish today,” head coach Lindsay Basalyga said. “It was a complete team effort. Players off the bench played hard, and our back line battled around the goal. That’s what we expect out of this team.”

After a hard-fought but scoreless first half in which the Hilltoppers out shot EKU 6-1, WKU finally capitalized on one of its shot attempts with 17 minutes left in the second half. Sophomore midfielder Nikki Workman lofted a corner kick that freshman forward Kaylyn Pratt punched into the goal from about eight feet out, putting the Hilltoppers up 1-0. 

Eleven minutes later, with only six minutes remaining in regulation, EKU’s Lindsay Ismer, a senior midfielder, worked the ball past the Hilltopper defense and laced a pass to freshman midfielder Heather Bruce. Bruce fired a shot that ricocheted off a WKU defender. Another WKU defender then mis-cleared the ball into the net, tying the game at 1-1.

“Although that goal goes down as an own goal, it was a direct result of the hard work of Lindsay Ismer and Heather Bruce putting pressure on their back line.” Basalyga said.

While the offense only attempted one shot in both overtimes, the Colonel defense held, and the game ended as a tie.

“Defensively, we never gave up,” Ismer said.

Junior defenders Jessica Goshert and Eva Hollenberg played almost all 110 minutes of the grind-it-out tie, as did junior defender Maddy Shumaker and freshman defender Stephanie Murray. 

Sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Lynch also played well, allowing just one goal and making seven saves while playing all 110 minutes of the game.

“I am very pleased with our back line and their organization,” Basalyga said. “Stephanie Lynch was solid, and she made the plays she need to make.”

Last year, EKU fell to WKU 6-2 in Bowling Green. This year, however, the Colonels were ready for the Hilltoppers. 

“We came out ready to play this time,” Ismer said. “We’ve worked hard for the past three weeks, and we were ready to come out here and take on someone other than ourselves. It was a great way to start the season." 

In the past three seasons, the Colonels are now 1-0-2 in season-opening games. They defeated regionally-ranked Detroit 2-0 on opening day in 2006, and then held ACC opponent Maryland scoreless in a 0-0 tie on opening day last year.

The Colonels return to action on August 31 when they travel to UT Chattanooga. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.