TERRE HAUTE —
After threatening in the waning seconds of three different periods Sunday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, the Indiana State women’s soccer team finally took advantage of its last opportunity when Casey Clark found the top corner of the net with 26 seconds remaining in the second extra period for a 2-1 nonconference win over Eastern Illinois.
It was a well deserved and long overdue score for the Sycamores, who nearly broke the 1-1 tie by scrambling to get off a corner kick in the last 10 seconds of the first period, who were on the doorstep with the ball bouncing around as regulation time ended, and who put a free kick on goal in the final minute of the first 10-minute overtime session.
“Pretty exciting,” coach Erika True noted after the match. “[The match] could’ve been winnable a few times earlier. I told the girls that overtime wins are always exciting, but it would be nice to get it done in regulation [time].
“But I thought the kids fought hard. They deserved that. Focusing on finishing is something we’ll continue to do in practice.”
The deserving part wasn’t just coach-speak. ISU outshot the Panthers 23-9 for the game, 17-3 after an even first period, and were the more aggressive team all day.
And after a pretty goal less than eight minutes into the match, when Alison Gasparovich’s crossing pass to Clark left the Sycamore senior alone in front of the EIU net for a tap-in, the home team appeared to be on its way.
“Alison Gasparovich played a great ball, and it was just a matter of making contact,” Clark said after the match. “It was the pass that made the goal; I was just in the right place at the right time.”
After that score the Sycamores seemed for awhile to be willing to turn the game over to keeper Emily Lahay and the defense; considering Lahay, last week’s Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week, entered the match not having been scored upon in 197 consecutive minutes, it didn’t seem like that bad a plan.
But the visitors had their best stretch of play in the latter stages of the first period, and were rewarded with a goal that was spectacular or extremely fortunate, depending on one’s point of view, in the 27th minute.
A long, high Panther free kick had been thwarted by the ISU defense, but the ball was still bouncing as it came to Eastern’s Elise Farrelly about 18 yards out. With her back turned almost completely away from the goal, she kicked the ball backward with her right foot over her left shoulder and it bent into the top corner of the net.
“Just one of those fluke things,” Lahay said after the match, “but I think we responded really well. We recognized [the scoreless streak] is behind us now, and the team was focused.”
Lahay didn’t have much work to do the rest of the way. But although the Sycamores threatened repeatedly, with Seyma Erenli peppering six of her eight shots in the second period, the winning score was still a long time coming.
But as the clock wound down to what seemed to be a certain and unsatisfying tie, defenseman Katie Geyman brought the ball up to Ashley Collins. Collins’ crossing shot from the right wing deflected off Eastern keeper Kaylin Lorbert to the left side, where Clark was waiting to put it away.
“Ashley Collins played a great ball across,” Clark said later. “It was bouncing and I just volleyed it.”
ISU is now riding a three-match winning streak, its longest since winning six in a row during the 2006 season, and is above .500 for the first time since winning the 2008 season opener — also in overtime, also against Eastern Illinois. Geyman, coincidentally, had the goal that day.
Sunday’s goals were the first two of the season for Clark, a four-year veteran. If it wasn’t her best day as a Sycamore, she at least feels it’s shaping up as her best year.
“Today was definitely a team effort. They just gave me great balls to finish,” Clark said. “This is by far the best year [since I’ve been at ISU]. We’re having a lot of fun and trying to enjoy every moment.”
“The kids are pretty excited,” True agreed.
n Soccer goes to the dogs — ISU’s next home match, at 7 p.m. Friday against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is Bark in the Park Night. Fans are invited to bring their dogs, as well as items to be donated to the humane shelter.
Eastern Illinois 1 0 0 0 — 1
Indiana State 1 0 0 1 — 2
ISU — Casey Clark (Alison Gasparovich)
EIU — Elise Farrelly
ISU — Clark (Katie Geyman, Ashley Collins)
Shots — ISU 23 (Seyma Erenli 8, Morgan Wendlandt 6), EIU 9 (Farrelly 3).
Shots on goal — ISU 6, EIU 3.
Corner kicks — ISU 7, EIU 4.
Fouls — ISU 18, EIU 6.
Next — Indiana State (3-2) has a 7 p.m. home match Friday against UMKC. Eastern Illinois is 2-3-1.
Sports
ISU women’s soccer team capitalizes late to defeat EIU
- Sports
-
Perfect: Indiana State's Jordan Printy (24) shoots and scores from 3-point land during the Feb. 11 game against Southern Illinois. Printy was a perfect 6 for 6 behind the 3-point line.
-
Is this ball rolling? Can Sycamores keep finding their shooting stroke?
Can Indiana State expect any carryover from its record-setting shooting performance Saturday when the Sycamores resume Missouri Valley Conference play against Illinois State at 7:05 p.m. today in Hulman Center?
-
Rose-Hulman eyes baseball milestone
Baseball may not be on the minds of too many Wabash Valley sports fans yet, but the Rose-Hulman program is prepared to commemorate an upcoming milestone.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU’s Thomas, Rose’s Dickerson honored
Rose-Hulman and Indiana State combined for three weekly conference honors in collegiate athletics that were announced Monday.
-
Time for a pick-me-up
Indiana State’s magnificent 3-point shooting duo of Brittany Schoen and Anna Munn connected at crucial times Sunday in Hulman Center.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Coleman sets 200-meter record for Rose-Hulman
Rose-Hulman’s track and field teams had 18 top-10 finishes Saturday at the Monmouth Invitational, which featured some NCAA Division I and Division II schools in addition to several Division III powers.
-
Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
-
South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
The day didn’t start in a promising fashion for Wabash Valley high school wrestlers at the Evansville Semistate in Ford Center on Saturday — but it got better as it went along.
-
TERRE HAUTE NORTH SECTIONAL: Mooresville tops South for fourth straight title
For Terre Haute South High School girls basketball fans, it might sound good that the Braves did not miss a shot in the first four minutes of their Class 4A Terre Haute North Sectional championship game Saturday.
-
BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan rebounds from tough start for title
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Sullivan struggled mightily in the first half, eerily reminiscent of its eventual elimination in the final seconds of overtime by Edgewood in last year’s Class 3A girls basketball sectional. -
CLAY CITY SECTIONAL: Eels take third straight sectional crown
Clay City stood up to the pressure and to the Shakamak Lakers on Saturday night to win a third straight Class A sectional championship in the Eel Dome.
-
Is this ball rolling? Can Sycamores keep finding their shooting stroke?
- Local Interest
-
Perfect: Indiana State's Jordan Printy (24) shoots and scores from 3-point land during the Feb. 11 game against Southern Illinois. Printy was a perfect 6 for 6 behind the 3-point line.
-
Is this ball rolling? Can Sycamores keep finding their shooting stroke?
Can Indiana State expect any carryover from its record-setting shooting performance Saturday when the Sycamores resume Missouri Valley Conference play against Illinois State at 7:05 p.m. today in Hulman Center?
-
Rose-Hulman eyes baseball milestone
Baseball may not be on the minds of too many Wabash Valley sports fans yet, but the Rose-Hulman program is prepared to commemorate an upcoming milestone.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU’s Thomas, Rose’s Dickerson honored
Rose-Hulman and Indiana State combined for three weekly conference honors in collegiate athletics that were announced Monday.
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Assessing the NCAA tournament jumble
The college men’s basketball schedule is in its final month with Selection Sunday less than four weeks away.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: ISU track athlete selected as MVC scholar-athlete of week
Indiana State senior Ernest Rollins has been selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week it was announced Friday.
-
Is this ball rolling? Can Sycamores keep finding their shooting stroke?
- High School
-
-
South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
The day didn’t start in a promising fashion for Wabash Valley high school wrestlers at the Evansville Semistate in Ford Center on Saturday — but it got better as it went along.
- TERRE HAUTE NORTH SECTIONAL: Mooresville tops South for fourth straight title
- BLOOMFIELD SECTIONAL: Sullivan rebounds from tough start for title
- CLAY CITY SECTIONAL: Eels take third straight sectional crown
- NORTH VERMILLION SECTIONAL: Twenty years in the waiting
-
South’s Lough to wrestle for state title
- College
-
Masked man: Indiana State's Justin Gant (5) passes to a cutting player Saturday at Hulman Center.
-
Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
When you’re a shooter and you’re in a slump, the boilerplate cure is to summon amnesia, forget about your struggles and keep on shooting.
-
ISU's Webb wins heptathlon
Indiana State’s Robert Webb captured the heptathlon Saturday at the Grand Valley State Big Meet as he totaled the second most points in ISU history while dominating the event. Webb scored 5,140 points, which is second only to former Sycamore Anthony Bertoli’s 5,189 points in 2008.
Webb, a senior, established three more personal best efforts enroute to the overall victory as he ran 8.45 in the 60 meter hurdles and 2 minutes, 50.73 seconds in the 1,000 meters while also clearing 13-1 1/2 in the pole vault. Webb entered the second day of the event in the lead with 2,893 points after winning three of the four Friday events and setting personal bests in the long jump and shot put. -
Perfect game: ISU shoots NCAA record 12-for-12 from 3-point range in win over SIU
Indiana State set an NCAA record for 3-point percentage and consecutive 3-pointers made Saturday afternoon in Hulman Center, connecting on all 12 attempts during a 78-68 win over Southern Illinois.
-
‘Frustrated’ Sycamores regroup to face Southern Illinois
Indiana State’s men’s basketball struggles have hit one Sycamore senior hard.
-
Thomas nets double-double as ISU women end losing streak
The halftime speech is one of the most time-worn clichés in sports, but once in a while, it’s meaningful. It certainly was for the Indiana State women’s basketball team on Friday against Bradley.
-
Indiana State connects on all 12 of its 3-point shots vs. SIU and sets three NCAA records in process
- Sports Columns
-
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Assessing the NCAA tournament jumble
The college men’s basketball schedule is in its final month with Selection Sunday less than four weeks away.
- RAMBLIN' RECK: And now, on to the next beloved winter sport
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Peyton’s place belongs to Eli
- COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
- REDNECK QUAKER: Parke County young man keeps busy outdoors
-
RAMBLIN' RECK: Assessing the NCAA tournament jumble
- Pro Sports
-
A New York Giants fan, center, leads a cheer as he and his fellow fans walk to Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Sunday.
-
A day later, Giants basking in win
A little more than nine hours after the New York Giants registered their second Super Bowl triumph in four years, coach Tom Coughlin and quarterback Eli Manning met with the media covering Super Bowl XLVI one last time Monday morning.
- PATRIOT KILLER: Eli’s heroics starting to look vintage
- What a kick for Weatherford
- FROM THE PRESS BOX: Peyton’s place belongs to Eli
- Mistakes cost Patriots fourth title
-
A day later, Giants basking in win
- Terre Haute Rex
-
-
Heftier home schedule awaits Rex fans
Terre Haute Rex fans will get to see their favorite baseball team play two additional home games this year — and it will be a championship team they’re watching.
- America’s (Class) Time: ISU students analyze Rex attendance data for class project
- No comeback this time for Rex
- Rex's pitching staff has big postseason potential
- Rex earn playoff spot with 8-3 win against Danville
-
Heftier home schedule awaits Rex fans
- Colts
-
-
Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
On Thursday, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano and potential No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck led the parade.
Grigson and Pagano confirmed the hiring of several assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, Marwan Maalouf (special teams), Roy Anderson (safeties), Alfredo Roberts (tight ends) and Brandt Boyer (assistant special teams). - Mathis, Garcon at top of Colts’ wish list; Wayne isn’t
- Manning tiptoes around health questions
- Back home again in Indiana
- Patriots first to arrive in Indy
-
Colts welcome Manusky aboard as defensive coordinator
- Auto Racing
-
-
TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011
A look back on the 2011 Wabash Valley auto racing season reveals the best and worst of times the sport has to offer.
- Action Track to play host to 4 USAC events
- ISU's Troxell, Crossroads Dragway in running for NHRA awards
- Memorial service for Wheldon attracts thousands
- Indy remembers Wheldon
-
TRACKSIDE: Valley racing showed best, worst of times in 2011








