ALLIANCE, Ohio – Senior Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer midfielder Kenna Poptic (Dublin/Jerome) scored the overtime game-winner in a hard fought 2-1 road Ohio Athletic Conference victory against the University of Mount Union in Mount Union stadium.
With the victory, BW (10-8-1, 3-4-1 OAC) improved their all-time record against Mount Union (5-9-2, 1-6-1 OAC) to 11-15-4 and earned its first win against the Purple Raiders since 2015. After tonight's OAC action, the Yellow Jackets now sit in fifth place in the OAC standings with one game remaining in the regular season.
Rain made its way to the field before the beginning of the game and nestled onto the wet and slick field. However, as the game progressed, players on both teams began assimilating to the wet playing conditions and mishaps occurred less frequently. Natural factors aside, BW had some difficulty generating offensive opportunities in the first half as they failed to record a shot on goal for the entire frame. Mount Union sophomore Sara Thomas opened the scoring in the 25th minute, after being strung on a semi-breakaway on the right wing, and then shooting the ball into the far-side corner of the net.
The Yellow Jackets were able to nod up the game at 1-1 in the second half. In astonishing fashion, junior defender Morgan Gray (Dublin/Scioto) unleashed what resembled a clear attempt from nearly half field, that ultimately soared over the keeper and into the net for the equalizer and her third goal of the season. BW controlled the tempo in the second half with stifling and by outshooting the Purple Raiders 3-0 in the period. Neither team could find the go-ahead goal late in the match, and thus marked the end of regulation without a victor.
With 20 seconds remaining in overtime, Poptic had been elected to take a free kick from roughly 25 yards away on the left side of the field. She decided to shoot the ball and her perfectly placed strike found the top right corner of the net for the Yellow Jackets game-winner.
BW senior goalkeeper Emma Bruno (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bethel Park) made three saves on four shots faced, as her record improved to 10-6-1 on the year.
The Yellow Jackets will wrap up regular season play with their Seniors' Night Game on Saturday, November 2 when they host Marietta College for an OAC matchup at 7:00 p.m. on Tressel Field.
