Overtime Opener Thriller

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. --- Northeastern State women's soccer team opened the 2009 season in fine fashion Friday afternoon at the RiverHawks Soccer Complex, behind the three-goal performance of freshman Rachel Sordahl for a 4-3 overtime victory over the University of Science & Arts .

We're very happy with the win." said Northeastern State coach Carol Melo. "We got a little overconfident when we took a two goal lead. We had a couple of chances in the second half to win, but the girls just had it in their minds in the overtime that they were going to win."

For Sordahl it was an impressive start in her first collegiate soccer match and Melo couldn't be happier.

"To play like that in your first game was outstanding," said Melo. "Not many people can claim the fact they scored a hat-trick in their first game."

Senior Early Villegas scored the first goal of the season and gave the RiverHawks a 1-0 lead at the 20:36 mark on an assist by sophomore Ellie Slack.

Freshman P.J. Davis opened at goal for Northeastern State and shutout the Drovers in the first half and was staked to a 2-0 lead at 36:06 when Sordahl, assisted by sophomore Hannah Struck, scored from 5-yards out to beat USAO keeper Nikki Thomas.

The Drovers got back into the match early in the second half scoring at the 56:50 mark on a Brittany Jay goal with an assist by Taylor Smithwick against RiverHawks' senior keeper Aubree Gallego, who relieved Davis.

USAO, however, tied the match at 2-2 with a Northeastern own goal at the 59:31 mark.

Just 14-minutes later Northeastern State regained the lead 3-2 when Sordahl scored her second goal of the season on a pass from sophomore Carina Martinez at 73:50.

The Drovers were not finished however. USAO tied the match 3-3 on an unassisted shot by Calli Cooper that hit the back post from 8-yards out at the 82:03 mark.

Neither team scored in the final eight-minutes with only one scoring threat, that by the Drovers' Brittany Jay, who missed a shot that went wide left.

Just seven-minutes into the overtime period Sordal scored her third goal for the hat-trick on an assist by Villegas, beating Drovers' goalkeeper Kasey Garner from 10-yards away on an open net.

The RiverHawks return to action Monday at 3 p..m. against Drury University.