September 12, 2003
Greenville, SC-Kat Kelley found the back of the net at the 107:50 mark to lift Furman to a 5-4 victory over Rhode Island in double overtime in the first round of the Select Kickoff Classic presented by Land Rover at Furman’s Eugene Stone Soccer Stadium.
The game-winner, Kelley’s second goal of the night, came when Erin Sanders deflected an April Raymer corner kick to the far post where Kelley hammered it by the Rhode Island keeper.
The two teams played a wild first half that ended with the score 3-3. Rhode Island’s Sarah Johnston took a Melanie Kasparek pass and knocked it past Furman goalkeeper Andie Hinshaw at the 11:47 mark to give URI the 1-0 lead. Furman’s Emily Turgeon scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season at the 15:49 mark to even the count at 1-1 on a one-vs-one with Rhode Island keeper Melissa Bargione after receiving a deep ball from Kate Johnson.
Rhode Island then scored twice to take the 3-1 lead. URI went ahead 2-1 when Sarah Johnson stole the ball from the Furman defense at the 29:31 and scored. Then a corner kick by Rhode Island’s Erica Young crossed the goalline to give the Rams the 3-1 lead at the 36:28 mark.
Furman then turned on the engines and rallied in the final five minutes of the first half as Danielle Petro took a Kelly Shedd cross in the box, turned and drilled the ball to the back of the net at the 42:41 mark. Kelley evened the score with an impressive flick over her shoulder after receiving a pass from Kate Johnson.
Rhode Island’s Melanie Kasparek put the Rams up 4-3 when she beat Furman keeper Andie Hinshaw to a misplayed ball 30 yards away from the goal then scored on an empty goal at the 74:01 mark. Furman’s Andre’a Morrison evened the score once again for the Lady Paladins when after beating several Rams defenders, her rifled shot deflected into the back of the net at the 78:58 mark.
"I was very pleased with our tenacity tonight," said Furman head coach Brian Lee. "We never gave up and were able to come from behind. However, I was very disappointed in the nature of the goals we gave up," said Lee. "We can’t play like that and continue to win games."
Furman has scored five goals in each of its last two matches. Tonight’s match marked the first time ever the Lady Paladins have allowed four goals and escaped with a victory.
Furman returns to action Sunday afternoon at 3:00 in the final day of the Select Kickoff Classic Presented by Land Rover against No. 23 Dayton. Rhode Island faces Clemson at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Scoring:
URI - Sarah Johnston (Melonie Kasparek
assist) 11:47
FU - Emily Turgeon (Kate Johnson assist) 15:49
URI - Sarah Johnston (unassisted) 29:31
URI - Erica Young (unassisted) 36:28
FU - Danielle Petro (Kelly Shedd assist) 42:41
FU - Kat Kelley (Kate Johnson assist) 44:08
URI - Melanie Kasparek (unassisted) 74:01
FU - Andre’a Morrison (unassisted) 78:58
FU - Kat Kelley (Erin Sanders, April Raymer) 107:50
Shots: FU -19 ; URI -12
Saves: FU -1 ; URI -6
Corner Kicks: FU -8 ; URI -4
Fouls: FU -14 , URI -9