It took until the 109th minute of play for the Shippensburg University women’s soccer team to get on the board Wednesday night against Millersville University. Kate Zech scored the lone goal in the second overtime and captured the Raiders’ 1–0 victory.

The first half of the game started slow for both teams, both the Raiders and the Maruaders recorded a mere two shots in the first 45 minutes of play.

SU junior midfielder Carolyn Smith took both shots for the Raiders. Smith led all Raider players with six total shots, one of which was on goal.

The second half was packed with action. Both teams recorded nine shots, none of which reached the back of net. The Raiders had their chances to score but stellar defense and goalkeeping by MU kept the Raiders off the board.

SU senior goalie Shelbie Rackley had an impressive game in the net as well for the Raiders. Rackley tallied five saves for the Raiders in 109 minutes.

The end of regulation ended in a deadlock at zero, taking the game into overtime.

The first overtime period ended in yet another 0–0 draw, with both teams recording two shots.
The second and final overtime started with a great save by Rackley, keeping the Raiders’ hope of a win still alive. SU stepped up the tempo from there and it paid off.

With just 13.9 seconds left in the game, Zech scored a huge goal for the Raiders.

Zech collected a rebound and delivered a shot while falling down that skipped passed the MU goalie, sending the Raider bench and fans into an uproar.

Zech’s teammates stormed the field and dog piled on top of her, celebrating SU’s huge victory.
“Casey [Rightmyer] was fumbling with the ball and I came through hoping for the best…I didn’t see [the goal] at all…I knew I went far post and was just hoping for the best,” Zech said.

The best is what Zech got—being that the ball found a way into the back of the net, solidifying the Raiders’ win.

It was an even match as Raiders outshot the Marauders by just one goal. SU recorded 16 shots throughout the game and MU notched 15.

“This is great. It is so exciting,” Zech said. “We have rivaled with Millersville all the time and every time we can pull out a win it is good.”

Zech’s goal takes her season total to two, tying her for the most on the Raider squad.
The Raiders will bask in this victory until Oct. 8 when they travel to West Chester University to take on the6–3 Rams. The game is slated to begin at 1 p.m.

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