DAYTON, Ohio - The Western Michigan women's soccer team
fought back from two goal deficit but ultimately lost in overtime to Wright
State 3-2 on Friday evening.
The Raiders netted goals at the end of the first half and at
the very beginning of the second half to build their 2-0 lead but Diana
Dedvukaj and Nikolette Rivera each tallied their first goals of the season to
force overtime. Wright State's Bekah Bonny netted the game-winner in the 99th
minute to drop the Broncos (3-4-0).
"It was a poor 65 minutes for us," said head coach Suzie
Grech. "We just let Wright State walk all over us but when we actually played
well we dominated them for a while. To be able to come back from a 2-0 deficit
and score two late goals is a great testament to the great character and the
effort they put out but it just wasn't enough. We have to go for the full 90 or
the full 120 and just play our game until the whistle blows."
WSU's Lauren Patterson netted her first of the season on a
penalty kick with 1:15 remaining in the first half to draw first blood after a
Raider was taken down in the box. Adrianna Guerrero pushed the lead to 2-0 just
53 seconds into the second half before the Broncos responded.
Dedvukaj, a freshman, netted her first career goal at 72:40
with an assist to Stephanie Skowneski to bring the lead within reach before
Rivera tallied off of a Caitlin Henderson corner kick to tie the game.
WMU's Michelle Watson made seven saves on the night and
Skowneski led the team in shots with three.
Western Michigan hosts Illinois State on Sunday at 11 a.m.
for the regular season home-opener.
