Sept. 21, 2014 – The Cougar women's soccer team hosted a non-conference game versus the Ravens of Anderson University (Indiana) on Sunday. The Cougars started strong and were up 1-0 early in the game. Anderson fought back and took the game to overtime where the Cougars emerged victorious, scoring with 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock for a 2-1 score line, which puts the Cougars at 5-2 on the season.

"We had a short turnaround from our game Saturday," said CUC head coach Thomas Goines. "The emphasis for Sunday was to play our game. When we position ourselves well on defense, communicate and pass to feet, we can be a tough team to beat. We performed well for much of the game and, credit to Anderson, they made it very difficult for us. It took concentration all the way to the end to give us a victory."

The game started brightly for the Cougars as they pressured the Ravens from kickoff and forced them backwards. The Cougars posted the first shot on the Ravens' goal just 29 seconds into the game and generally had the run of play for the next 20 minutes. At the 11-minute mark, Kaely Fitterling (Bridgeton, MO/Pattonville) played in a high arcing cross that was not judged correctly by the Anderson defense. Allison Kruk (Elgin, IL/St. Edward) pounced on the loose ball for her first goal of the year and a 1-0 lead. '

In the second half, the game got more physical, and the usual sharpness of play was not in evidence. Ten minutes into the second half, the Ravens got a free kick near the Cougars' goal and were able to tie the game up with a shot off the underside of the cross bar. The tying goal sparked the Concordia-Chicago effort that was led by the excellent play of Stephanie Brown (Streamwood, IL/Streamwood) down the right wing. The Cougars outshot the Ravens in the second half 12-5 while pushing for victory, but were unable to put the ball in the net.

The best chance in the first overtime came as senior Elise Bicek (Mokena, IL/Lincoln-Way East), who played superb defense at left back, played in a cross from the left side that Sarah LaCost (Mt Prospect, IL/Prospect) headed onto the back post. The Cougars would not relent and persevered till the end.

As the game reached the final 10 seconds of the second overtime, Bicek played the ball to Brown on the left wing. Kruk received the back pass from Brown and played it up top to LaCost in the center with six seconds remaining. LaCost spun and played the ball through the right gap as Alisha Johnson (Coal City, IL/H.S.) cut in toward goal and sent a laser into the roof of the net with 2.1 seconds remaining in the game for the golden goal victory.

The Cougars return to NACC play on Wednesday as they host Aurora University at 4 p.m.