Alva, Okla.– Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rangers won a gutsy performance Thursday evening in a full game of rain. Rangers etched out a 2-1 victory in overtime on a game winning penalty kick goal by Alyssa Nunez.
Rangers came out with a very quick attack getting the first six shots of the game by either team. After trading a few shots back and forth neither team could take advantage of some scoring chances. With 25:31 left in the first half the game would go under a weather delay.
"Yea it was weird, I wasn't expecting lighting tonight," head Coach Erik Solberg on the delay. "I think for us it was to keep it simple. Think it actually helped us break the game up allowed us to play some players a little bit longer. You know we got a little break there. The kids were really motivated tonight to go out there and play their hardest. I wasn't too worried, I didn't have to say anything extra. It was like a timeout or a quarter in other sports where you get to talk things over a do a little more coaching. However, I don't really worry about it with these kids because when they get over the white line are ready to play no matter what."
Northwestern would gain some control right after play resumed. After a save by goalkeeper Reyna Gonzalez, the Rangers turned that save into some more positivity, by starting a break. Yazmin Gomez found some open room and gave NWOSU a 1-0 lead with her third goal of the week and sixth of the season.
The Rangers would control the rest of the half not allowing any momentum change and controlled it into the break. NWOSU would lead 1-0 at halftime.
ECU got off to a fast start opening the half with a few shots and seemed to be controlling possession for a while with the wind in their favor. After a yellow card on Northwestern this sparked ECU's first goal which was the equalizer for the rest of the half.
Northwestern and East Central both would continue to try to find some type of rhythm to spark something. However, both teams ended up just continuing to trade positions. After neither were able to capitalize the match in regulation would end 1-1 going into overtime.
After ECU gained control of overtime early on getting the first shot off. After Gonzalez was able to make the save and start the Rangers attack. Northwestern would get their first two shots in overtime. After gaining control around midfield sparked a breakaway where Nunez was fouled inside the box. This would give her a penalty kick. Nunez took full advantage by capitalizing with the game winning goal.
"I think they worked harder, were able to outwork the other team. I think that was really the key in overtime we were into the wind again. I told them today, that the game was going to be won by the team that worked the hardest. We got the ball and played our style of soccer, got into dangerous places and obviously Alyssa draws the kick and converted.
This win improves the Rangers to 6-7-1 on the year and 3-4-1 in conference play. The six wins on the year is the most in Ranger Soccer program history since moving to Division II.
"It means a lot, it is really about the girls," Solberg on the win. "I think the seniors have put in a lot of work over the last four years. To be able to get that for them. The team deserves all the credit, I am super proud of them, gritty, gutsy performance again out of them tonight especially with it being the fourth game in eight days and the tough loss on Tuesday to earn that result tonight. The fact that it's a milestone tonight is special and the kids deserve a lot of credit."
The Rangers will be on the road for their next two contest on OCT 31 and NOV 2. The next home game for fans to attend will be Nov 7 against Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. "The crowd was great, we had great support despite the weather. We are very appreciative to Northwestern community," Solberg stated.
