Women's Soccer battles #15 Hope (Mich.) to 1-1 draw in 2019 home opener

By Scott Beaton

ADA — The Ohio Northern women's soccer team played No. 15-ranked Hope (Mich.) to a 1-1 draw after two overtime periods in its 2019 home opener at Kerscher Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Junior Abigail Mathews (Liberty Township/Lakota East) netted the lone goal for the Polar Bears (2-0-1).

The Flying Dutch (0-0-3) received an equalizer from Audrey White in the 65th minute.

In the 4th minute, junior Megan Breier (Plainfield, Ill./North) earned a corner kick for the Polar Bears.

Senior Haley Moses (Mason) sent the ensuing corner into the box before a Hope clearance attempt was blocked by junior Sydney Leshnak (Liberty Township/Mount Notre Dame).

The loose ball found its way to Mathews, who beat the Flying Dutch keeper with a shot from eight yards out to the right post to give ONU a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, Hope scored in the 65th minute off a header from six yards out.

Senior Meagan Grierson (Dayton/Miamisburg) and the Polar Bear defense held off the Flying Dutch late in the second half to send the game into overtime, tied at 1-1.

Hope outshot Ohio Northern in the first overtime 3-1 but neither team found the net.

In the second overtime, Northern had multiple dangerous chances.

Both sophomore Tara Morris (Monroe) and junior Emma Barney (Oak Harbor) had shots saved on the goal line by a Flying Dutch defender in the 104th minute.

Off a set piece in the 109th minute, junior Siena Ward (Newport Beach, Cal./Newport Harbor) corralled a deflection off a Hope defender in front of the goal line, but was ruled offside.

The Polar Bears outshot Hope 17-13 with ONU putting seven shots on-frame to HC's four. Hope held an 11-7 advantage in corners.

Ohio Northern returns to the pitch Saturday at 3 p.m. against No. 6-ranked Wheaton (Ill.).