Forward Lindsay Rogers scored a goal with nine seconds remaining in the second overtime period to propel the Lakeland women’s soccer team past Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) opponent Wisconsin Lutheran Oct. 9 in Milwaukee.
Junior midfielder Kristina Borts dribbled into a two-on-one situation and passed to Rogers who sent the ball into the net and Muskie players and supporters into pandemonium.
“Kristi [Borts] passed me the ball and it was the goalie and I one-on-one,” Rogers, a junior, said. “I just remember Kristi saying take your time and pick a corner. Pretty much it felt like time stopped and I was going in slow motion. It was just a relief to put the game away and get the win. This puts us closer to making the tourney.”
Women’s soccer coach Tony Pierce commented on Rogers’ last-ditch goal, which marked Lakeland’s 26th shot of the game.
“Emotionally, it’s a tremendous boost to score in a game like that. We had chances all game but couldn’t put one away—but they kept competing,” Pierce said. “I think the girls sensed they could win the game and their efforts were rewarded with nine seconds left.”
Rogers, Borts, and junior midfielder Dana Schmidt led the offense with ten, six, and four shots in the match, respectively, but the Warriors senior goalkeeper Katie Sloan turned away 13 Muskie shots.
Freshman goalkeeper Ashley Sarbacker shut out the Warriors with a 15-save performance against a Warrior team that fired 27 shots and won six corners on the day.
The women conceded three goals in the first 16 minutes of play in their 6-1 loss to Edgewood Oct. 5 in Madison.
Borts pulled one back for the Muskies with a converted penalty kick in the 44th minute.
Sophomore midfielder Molly Haertle completed a hat trick and sealed Edgewood’s victory with goals in the 48th and 54th minutes.
“When we gave up two goals early in the second half we made it hard for ourselves. We had eleven players so there wasn’t much we could do differently.”
Pierce said his team, in eighth place in the NAC with a 3-4 record, stands a good chance to make the conference tournament if it can get results in the last five games.
“I expect us to win three or four of the next five,” Pierce said. “I believe we can do it but the ladies need to believe we can do it because when we settle down, we play good soccer.
“The women have done a great job overcoming injuries and schedule challenges all year. Our goal was to be better than last year and we’re right on the cusp of that. We’re very much in the hunt in the NAC and that’s all we can ask for,” Pierce said.
The women hosted MSOE Oct. 13 and will travel to Milwaukee to play Alverno Oct. 16 at noon.