RUSTON – Louisiana Tech junior Jaelyn Peeples came into Friday night having not scored a goal in her collegiate career which consisted of 51 matches.
 
The midfielder picked a clutch time to change that in her 52nd career match as she bent her right-footed corner kick just inside the near post in the first overtime period, helping LA Tech defeat Old Dominion by a final score of 3-2 at the Lady Techster Soccer Complex.
 
It was a wild night to say the least. 
 
The first half had three total goals and constant rainfall.  The second half had both goalkeepers forced to leave the match due to injury.  Then came the rare goal off the corner kick itself for the golden goal. 
 
"It was nerve-wracking," head coach Kevin Sherry said.  "Old Dominion is a very strong team with their size, speed and strength.  We had to change our game a little, missing two of our normal starters.  I think that took them by surprise a little bit.  The pressure was never-ending as they came back to tie it.
 
"We have been working really hard on set plays and it just so happens that was the one that gave us the victory.  Tonight though, I think it was that extra 10 percent effort, that willingness to sacrifice for your teammates, was the key. 
 
LA Tech (8-3-0, 1-1-0 C-USA) was able to strike first in the match.  Sophomore Amber Posthauer was the first sub of the match, coming in for senior Mylene Roy-Ouellet who left temporarily due to injury. 
 
Then in the 14th minute, Posthauer put the Lady Techsters up 1-0.  After freshman Mazie Jones won a 50-50 ball at midfield, she passed it off to fellow freshman Hanna Banks who sent the long ball forward.
 
Posthauer timed her run perfectly and caught up with the pass.  With a defender chasing her, she was able to beat the keeper 1v1 from the top of the box to the far post. 
 
Five minutes later, the Lady Techsters struck again.  Roy-Ouellet subbed back in and took advantage of a turnover up top.  The striker dribbled inside the 18 towards the end line and sent a cross that found junior Kaylee Zettler at the far post where she registered the one-touch finish for her team-leading sixth goal. 
 
ODU (3-4-2, 0-1-0 C-USA) was not going to go down without a fight though.  With less than two minutes before halftime, Talia Tapper sent a long ball from midfield that was cleared out by goalkeeper Courtney Tompkins. 
 
The clearance was stopped by Natalie Johnson.  Then an error by a LA Tech defender sent the ball inside the 18 where Iris Achterhof shot from 10 yards out into the open net to slice the deficit down to one. 
 
With LA Tech clinging to a one-goal lead and playing a defensive strategy, the Monarchs eventually struck for the equalizer in the 76th minute when Carla Morich sent a through ball that was ran on by Morgan Hall up the left flank.  She then had a strong finish over the sliding Tompkins from 15 yards out.
 
Over the next eight minutes, both goalkeepers suffered injuries and were forced to come out of the game. 
 
After a brief break at the end of regulation with the score tied 2-2, LA Tech was immediately on the attack. 
 
Two minutes in, Banks dribbled the ball into the corner and sent a cross that was deflected by an ODU defender out of the end line.  Junior Lexie LeBlanc took the corner kick with her left foot from the right side and sent it to Roy-Ouellet who had her header blocked.  The ball went out of play again, giving the Lady Techsters another corner. 
 
This time it was Peeples who took it from the left side.  Despite ODU having a defender at the near post, the ball still bent past her and everyone else for the game winner. 
 
LA Tech was able to pull out the three points despite playing without two key starters Nomvula Kgoale and Elizabeth Doll. 
 
ODU had a slim 16-14 shot advantage.  Roy-Ouellet led the way for the Lady Techsters with four.  Peeples, who played the entire 93 minutes, had three shot attempts despite playing defender most of the game. 
 
Carlotta Cartelli picked up the win, playing 15 minutes in net after subbing in for Tompkins who left with five saves to her credit.
 
LA Tech will have a quick turnaround as they face WKU on Sunday.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
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