Late spark

Lady Flames score golden goal in OT

The Lady Flames soccer team (2-4-1) was back in action Sunday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Lady Rams (1-6) 1-0 in a non-conference game at Osborne Stadium Sept. 13.

The Lady Rams started this game in attack mode as the ball was on the Lady Flames side of the field often in the first half. The Lady Rams had multiple opportunities to score early but the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year, redshirt junior goalkeeper Holly Van Noord was there to fend off the Lady Rams’ scoring chances.

The Lady Flames had their own opportunity to score early when senior midfielder Brittany Aanderud sent a cross over to the chest of sophomore midfielder Brianne Beard. The ball was on its way into the net until Lady Rams goalkeeper Emma Kruse jumped in front to make the save and keep the game scoreless headed into halftime.

The Lady Flames again attacked early in the second half when sophomore forward Jennifer Knoebel crossed to ball in the box, but was broken up by Kruse.

With 39 minutes left in the second half, Lady Flames senior Jaime Bouffard sent another beautiful cross that was just out of reach for her teammates. However, the Lady Rams wasted no time and found themselves with another scoring chance. The chance was denied by a diving Van Noord, just as those before it, and the game remained scoreless.

The Lady Rams continued the attack when freshman Kelly Graves found herself in open space with the ball and 1-on-1 with Van Noord. Van Noord bolted out of the box and was able to push Graves’ shot attempt wide right to keep the game tied at 0-0.

“We knew they were a really good team, they always are,” Van Noord said. “I knew I was going to get a lot of action. I knew they were just going to keep hammering us.”

The Lady Flames tried to break the tie with 14 minutes left with the ball on the foot of Bouffard, but her shot just grazed the top of the goal post and out of play.

With a little under seven minutes left to play, Lady Flames freshman forward Devon Jones caught the Lady Rams defense sleeping when she stole the ball and was 1-on-1 with Kruse. Kruse charged Jones and made a leaping save to keep the game knotted at zero.

“I told (the girls) that the way we were pressing, the way that we were defending, the way that were taking chances was right,” Lady Flames Head Coach Jessica Hain said. “At halftime, we noticed that their keeper played high outside of her goal. If the ball was to go on frame most likely it would go over the goalkeeper. In overtime it’s the little details that make the difference.”

The difference came in the 95th minute. After being set up by a free kick, the ball found the foot of senior midfielder Madison Kauzlarich, who directed it over the outstretched arm of Kruse and into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.

“I just saw the opening,” Kauzlarich said. “There was not much else going through my mind at the time.”

Day is a sports reporter.