CORPUS CHRISTI – UTSA and the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's soccer team battled through 109 minutes to a scoreless tie, before a lightning strike ended the game with 1:03 remaining in the second overtime. Megan Delaney made 10 saves for her third shutout of the season for the Islanders (1-2-2), while Emma Makela and Katherine Tesno shared a shutout for the Roadrunners (3-2-1).
"I was very pleased with the turnaround we had from the first half to the second," head coach Shanna Caldwell said. "We talked about making a couple adjustments, but overall we just were sharper off the ball. We had some great chances in the second half and we just couldn't find the back of the net.
"I thought our center backs did a great job reading the game as well as Delaney in goal," she added. "This gave us a lot of positives going into conference play. I think if we can stay focused and disciplined like the second half tonight we will be in good shape for the rest of the season."
Early on, the Islanders had a slight edge in play, but the Roadrunners responded and regained the momentum. UTSA kept firing from long distance, but each time the ball sailed off frame or was stopped by Delaney, who made four saves in the opening half. The Islanders came back with a strong chance in the 20th minute, as Jacey Love sent a ball into the box on a free kick, but the Islanders couldn't put the ball on frame.
UTSA came back, though, and had a grade-A chance in the 35th minute, as a cross deep into the box found its way to Kauwela Neal. But Delaney snuffed out the opportunity with a save moving to her right to keep the game scoreless. The Roadrunners continued to pressure, but couldn't crack the scoreboard before the break.
After the half, the Islanders came out with renewed energy, and increased the pressure significantly. The first chance came in the 59th minute, courtesy Aulona Velaj. Yvette Franco played the ball up the left side to a streaking Alyssa Miller. Miller sent a ball into the box, but it caromed off Velaj's foot and just wide of the right post.
In the 64th, A&M-Corpus Christi had another golden opportunity. Zoe Cole played a ball ahead to Velaj on the left side. Velaj bent a floating ball toward the far post, but Emma Makela made a brilliant diving save to keep the sheet clean.
Later, the Islanders had another top-flight chance, as Miller tried to break up the left side all alone, but Makela came out of her net and took out the senior. She was sent off by the referee at the 78:41 mark with a red card, but Franco's shot on the free kick sailed high and the score remained 0-0.
It stayed that way all through the remainder of regulation and overtime, and with 1:03 remaining in the final session, a lightning strike sent the game into a weather delay. After a second strike in the area delayed the match further, game officials elected to call the match final.
The Islanders are off until next Friday, when they will open conference play on the road at Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Hammond.
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