LEXINGTON, Ky. – Down by two goals early in the first half, the Eastern Kentucky University women's soccer team scores three unanswered goals to complete a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Stetson on Sunday afternoon at Lexington Sporting Club.
 
Freshman Ella Grode secured the win for the Colonels, notching the game-winning tally in the 88th minute.  Forwards Ana Manning and Maddy Murphy also scored in the contest with goals marked in the 37th and 58th minutes.
 
The Colonels logged nine points in the match from six different student-athletes, Peyton Smith, Nerea de Diego, and Kaitlyn Rowlett ended with assists.  With the win, EKU (6-5-1, 3-1-0 ASUN) has won three consecutive games against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents. 
 
EKU's 3-2 comeback victory over the Stetson (5-7-0, 0-4-0 ASUN) marked the Colonels' second-straight comeback victory for the first time since October of 2016.
 
EKU out-shot the Hatters by a wide 26 to 9 difference, led by six from Manning and four from Grode.  Three other Colonels tallied three or more shots in the contest, including Murphy who ended a perfect 3-for-3 on the day.
 
Stetson scored the opening goal just under seven minutes into the contest as Eva McCoy was fouled just outside the box and was awarded a free kick from 20 yards out.  She used her right foot and sent an un-savable shot in the lower right of the net for the 1-0 lead.
 
20 minutes later, Stetson claimed a two-goal lead over the Colonels as Sawyer Reynolds caught two one-touch passes from her fellow Hatters and narrowly placed a ball just outside of Marah Krick's reach.
 
EKU would claw its way back into the contest in the 37th minute as Manning placed a ball in the netting to bring the Colonels to a 2-1 deficit at halftime.
 
The second half was all EKU, who found its 2-2 equalizer in the 58th minute as Murphy sent a rocket into the back of the next off a one-on-one opportunity.
 
The Colonels would play the next 30 minutes on the Stetson side of the field, keeping the pressure alive while out-shooting the visiting club 17 to two over the period. 
 
The EKU game-winning goal was found in the 88th minute as Rowlett connected with Grode, who used her right boot to send a shot over the SU backline for the 3-2 victory.
 
EKU's pressure in the second half propelled the squad to a wide 57 percent possession victory over the Hatters.  The Colonels were awarded five corner kicks, four of which came in the latter half of the match.  Sunday's victory over Stetson avenges a 1-0 loss suffered last season in Richmond.
 
EKU returns to action on Thursday night facing Central Arkansas on the road and will be the ASUN Match of the Week featuring the current No. 1 and No. 2 squads in the conference.  The match can be viewed live on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. EST.