Soccer: Keester's overtime goal gives A&M 4-3 victory over Arkansas

There are few things more exciting in sports than a sudden-death, overtime win. It’s even more thrilling when you win after coming from behind.

On Friday night, the Texas A&M soccer team experienced just that as they pulled out a gutsy, golden goal victory over the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks, 4-3, in front of 4,593 fans including the entire Corps of Cadets at Ellis Field. With the victory, A&M moves to 10-3-1 overall and 5-1-0 in SEC play while the Razorbacks fall to 9-5-0 on the season and 2-4-0 in conference matches.

“I’m obviously pleased,” said A&M head coach G Guerrieri. “That was a real gut check for our kids. Arkansas was a battling, hard-working team who game planned very well. Give their coaching staff a high five because they set up a good plan against us.”

Less than three minutes into the game, A&M drew first blood when freshman forward Liz Keester found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the year.  Bianca Brinson was credited with the assist after a nifty pass was made to Keester who shot from the right side of the box and found the back corner of the Arkansas goal.

“Keester is a big-time goal scorer, and she always has been,” stated Guerrieri. “I thought she was really good tonight and was able to combine with other people to make it so that Arkansas couldn’t just key in on her. When they gave her a little space, she burned them.”

With the crowd rocking after the A&M goal, it seemed that the Aggies were going to step on the throats of the Hogs and end it before things really got going.

However, Arkansas fought back and scored three goals over the next 21 minutes to take the 3-1 lead. All three scoring plays came off of Razorback corner kicks taken by midfielder Tyler Allen.

On the first, defender Margaret Power was left unmarked on the back post and easily headed it in, while the second and third came after Ashleigh Ellenwood and Yvonne DesJarlais found the ball at their feet after being knocked around in the box.

“All three serves were great,” said Guerrieri. “The first one they scored on the back post where [Power] buried it into the upper corner was something you just almost have to applaud. They had some really good goals.”

As if four first half scores weren’t enough, A&M defender Rachel Lenz decided to join the fun in the 28th minute.  After an A&M free kick that bounced off the wall of Arkansas defenders, Lenz fielded the ball and let loose a rocket that whizzed past the Razorbacks’ goalie to cut the lead to 3-2 and more importantly showed that the Aggies weren’t going down without a fight.

And fight they did.

First, sophomore midfielder Janae Cousineau tied the game at 3-3 in the 62nd minute after redirecting a Karlie Mueller free kick into the back of the net with her head.

Then, the Aggies' defensive front, led by goalie Jordan Day, made the necessary plays to keep the Razorbacks from retaking the lead in regulation.

Finally, Keester made the play of the game during the first overtime period that gave A&M the victory and kept them on pace with Kentucky and South Carolina for second in the conference.

“I think confidence and belief [allowed us to fight],” stated Guerrieri. “If we tried to play like Arkansas … that’s not who we are. We had to continue to be ourselves, but at the same time understand that the other team has a game plan against us. It took a lot of confidence, skill and character on the part of the Aggies.”

With 4:23 left in the first overtime, Keester fielded a pass from Allie Bailey and used her cannon of a leg to strike from nearly 20 yards out. The ball sailed into the right-upper 90 of the net, just past the outstretched fingers of Arkansas goalie Cameron Carter, and gave A&M the golden goal victory.

“I got the pass and I saw the shot,” said Keester. "I knew I had to take it. We work on a lot of things like that in practice for those intense situations. It's all about doing what we work on in practice."

With more than half of their SEC schedule now behind them, the Aggies must maintain their focus and keep fighting towards their goal of an NCAA Tournament bid. That fight continues next Friday as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide.