Rachel Essner
Contributing Writer
The Murray State soccer team competed in their home opener on Friday, March 5, against Eastern Kentucky University. After a tough game, the Racers triumphed with a 3-2 victory over the Colonels.
Eastern Kentucky opened the game strong, scoring a goal in the sixth minute. The Racers retaliated in the 26th minute with a goal from freshman forward Chloe Barnthouse off a corner kick from freshman midfielder Hailey Cole to tie the game at 1-1.
The Racers thought they pulled ahead at halftime when senior midfielder Izzy Heckman put the ball in the net on minute 45 of the first half, but the referees ruled that the time on the clock ran out before the ball crossed the goal line.
The Racers entered halftime with an 11-3 shot advantage and 58% of ball possession. However, the Colonels opened the second half with a goal in the 11th minute to gain a 2-1 advantage.
Murray State put pressure on the Colonels, which resulted in a goal from senior forward Rebecca Kubin off a cross from redshirt junior midfielder Symone Cooper in minute 36 of the second half to tie the game at 2-2.
With two minutes left on the clock and overtime seeming inevitable, Kubin shot the ball into the EKU goal where the goalkeeper deflected it. Cole, however, got a hold of the deflected ball and was able to sink it into the Colonels’ goal, putting the Racers ahead 3-2 to win the game.
The Racers owned 62% of ball possession during the game, which gave them the chance to outshoot the Colonels 22-5.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Villacres made three saves to keep the Colonels at two goals.
Kubin and Barnthouse now have two goals apiece this season, while Cole scored the first goal of her collegiate career.
Kubin’s goal moved her up on Murray State’s all-time scoring list to sixth, tying with Rebekah Clay (2005-08) at 24 goals.
“We have a complete trust in our players,” said Head Coach Matt Lodge. “From our seniors down to our freshmen, complete trust. We knew what we were getting ourselves into and that we would have to stick up for ourselves, and we did just that.”
The Racers will travel to University of Tennessee Martin to take on the Skyhawks on Tuesday, March 9, and will kick off at 7 p.m.
