By: Sarah Skaggs scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation and added the game-winner in the eighth minute of overtime to give the Lady Blues a vital MWC victory.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Things were bleak late in regulation on Sunday for the Illinois College women's soccer team. Entering the final minute of play, the Lady Blues trailed Ripon, 1-0, as they had since the 38th minute. IC had put shots on goal, but nothing that had particularly challenged the Red Hawk defense up until then. Out of seemingly nothing,
Ashley Sholmire crossed a ball into the box that
Sarah Skaggs just was able to head over the outstretched hands of Ripon keeper Sidney Blodgett, forcing the game into overtime. There, Illinois College was at its best and was rewarded with another Skaggs goal, giving the team the Midwest Conference victory.
Ripon was the team on the front foot in the opening half. The Red Hawks were denied one goal by an Illinois College team save, while another attempt minutes later hit the crossbar and rebounded out. The breakthrough for Ripon came in the 38th minute when a ball played out of midfield from Hannah Mahr came to Brandi Peltier on the edge of the penalty area. IC keeper
Corey Hanson raced out to challenge, but Peltier got to the ball first and played it square for Paige Birschbach to tap home into the open net.
The second half didn't appear to have many surprises in store for the people who braved the cool, rainy weather at England Stadium. Illinois College was strong in defense, but for much of the time couldn't find a way to link up to its attack. The desperation of the late-game situation ultimately may have been just what the Lady Blues needed. With less than 50 seconds remaining in the match, Sholmire worked just free enough of a Ripon defender to send a cross into the box where Skaggs was there to beat Blodgett.
In the extra session, the momentum of what had transpired seemed to carry over. The Lady Blues were the aggressor throughout and were just inches away from victory when
Elizabeth Wagnon stretched out and pushed a shot just wide of the right post in the 96th minute. Two minutes later, a Ripon turnover in its final third gave Skaggs time and space on the ball and she didn't miss. A 20-yard bullet to the upper right corner beat Blodgett and capped the incredible comeback.
"After the way we worked and worked and didn't get rewarded on Wednesday night against Monmouth, it was great to come back out here and see that the team still believed," said Head Coach
Linda Hamilton. "It wasn't an easy win here today, but our team played its best in the final minutes of regulation and overtime and Sarah made a couple of outstanding plays to make the difference."
Illinois College improves its record to 8-4-1 on the season and 2-2-1 in the Midwest Conference. The Lady Blues are home for two more matches next weekend, starting off with Beloit College on Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
