MEMPHIS, Tenn.
-- It took more than 103 minutes but
the University of North Alabama
women's soccer team finally closed
out a huge 2-1 Gulf South Conference
win over Christian Brothers in
double overtime. It was UNA's
first-ever win over the Lady
Buccaneers in Memphis in five tries
and it keeps the 24th ranked Lions
unbeaten in league play.
With the win, UNA is now 11-1-1
overall and 3-0 in GSC play.
Christian Brothers, a perennial GSC
power, falls to 6-3 overall and 1-1
in the GSC. UNA and West Florida are
now the only two unbeaten teams in
conference play remaining .
"I'm really proud of our team and
the mental toughness the players
showed tonight," UNA head coach
Graham Winkworth said. "They showed
strong character and courage in a
hard-fought and heavily contested
game."
The 11th win of the season ties the
UNA school record for the most wins
in a season, equalling the 11 wins
by teams in 1999 and 2000.
After playing what Winkworth called
"perhaps the team's best 30 minutes
of the season" in the first half,
UNA took the initial lead at the
29:15 mark on a goal from Chloe
Roberts. It was her 19th of the
season, off an assist from fellow
freshman Nikki Brown. Christian
Brothers tied the game at the 37:04
mark and it remained tied through
the second half and the first
overtime period.
In the fourth minute of the second
overtime, at the 103:30 mark, Brown
again provided the assist as Roberts
netted the winning goal. Brown's two
assists push her season total to 13,
which is a UNA single-season record.
She also leads the NCAA Division II
in assists. Roberts' 20 goal total
is also a UNA single-season record,
breaking the mark of 18 set by
teammate Tassia Augusto in 2008.