By: Anthony Guivas / Staff Writer
Two overtime periods were not enough to determine a winner when the Golden Panthers took on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at WKU Soccer Field on Oct. 7.
Since no team had a firm grip on the game, it was no surprise that it finished with the first tie of the season for FIU. What made things more interesting was that FIU and WKU linked up on virtually every statistical category.
When it came to shots, the Golden Panthers and Hilltoppers stood at 14 a piece, saves at six apiece and shots on goal at six apiece as well.
During the first half, FIU and WKU stood at a standstill as every shot both teams took defensivley ended up being wide or high.
“Defensively we really kept them from any dangerous opportunities,” Coach Thomas Chestnutt said.
One clear cut reason as to why the Golden Panthers kept WKU off the board was because of goal keeper Kaitlyn Savage, who earned her third straight shutout. The first half concluded 0-0 with no team threatening.
After a 15-minute reprieve, both teams returned to the pitch and the Golden Panthers entered the second half as more of an aggressor.
In minute 51:35, Deana Rossi had a great header, but it was saved by WKU goalkeeper Libby Stout. FIU then continued to try to penetrate through the Hilltoppers’ defense as players such as April Perry, Kim Lopez and Nicole DiPerna took great shots, but those where to no avail.
“The game was tied but I felt like we definitely were a little more dangerous, but we just didn’t take our chances,” Chestnutt said.
The Kentucky Hilltoppers did give the Golden Panthers a huge scare in minute 86:40, when WKU’s Courtney Rymer took the best shot of the game for the Hilltoppers, but goalkeeper Kaitlyn Savage saved FIU from what could have been the decisive goal.
So as quickly as that scare occurred, so did regulation, meaning overtime was the last chance for FIU to seal a victory.
After both teams took a much needed 15 minute break, they took to the pitch once again, but the game continued with the same back and forth routine.
Overtime play saw the Golden Panthers and the Kentucky Hilltoppers square off and finish evenly as both ended up taking four shots a piece.
So as no team could take advantage of their opportunities, overtime concluded and with it, the game. Even though this was a tough loss, the Golden Panthers kept their head high and viewed this as a step in the right direction.
“I thought we battled, we could have been a bit sharper in the attack, half of the field in general, but I am happy with the way the team played,” Chestnutt said. “Sometimes the result just doesn’t fall.”
The Golden Panthers are still looking to improve because they do not want to miss opportunities, and each shot is crucial.
“We know we have the teeth to battle, we just have to execute on the attacking half of the field,” added Chestnutt. “We have to execute more and that’s the bottom line.”
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