ADRIAN, Mich. -- The Siena Heights women's soccer team opened the 2021 season with a 1-1 double-overtime draw versus Olivet Nazarene at home on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Isabel Herden (Wedel, Germany) tallied the first goal of the season for the Saints in the opening three minutes of the match. Freshman Kennedy Hyde (Howell, Mich.) received a pass from sophomore Lily Tiplady (Canton, Mich.) and made a beautiful cross into the box that Herden floated over Tiger keeper Tessa Kowalski (T, 0-0-1) for the 1-0 lead. SHU held strong on defense throughout much of the first half as ONU was held without a shot until the 43rd minute of play. That was when a through pass got behind the Saint defense and Kara Jacobs put the ball in the net to knot things up in the final moments of the first half.
Herden had the best chance in the second half to break the deadlock when the Tigers were issued a yellow card to give Siena Heights a free-kick. Herden's boot sailed just a bit too high and bounced off the crossbar. Senior keeper Kara Bishop (T, 0-0-1) made three saves in the second half to preserve the tie and force overtime.
Again the Saints had a chance to win the game in overtime but sophomore Sophie Zelek (Canton, Mich.) saw her header go wide right of the net. Herden got another opportunity to score when her first shot was blocked by a defender and Kowalski made a diving save on the second shot to end the first overtime period.
ONU struck in the second overtime period with a shot on goal but was thwarted by Bishop. Just 36 seconds later, freshman Sarah Ammon (Royal Oak, Mich.) saw her shot go wide left and conclude the chances for both teams as the game ended in a draw after 20 extra minutes.
FRESHMAN DEBUTS: Four rookies made their collegiate debuts for the Saints in the game: Kayla Rivers (Dexter, Mich.), Alyssa Fischer (Sterling Heights, Mich.) Hyde, and Ammon.
RECORD WATCH: Bishop is just 22 saves away from cracking the top-10 in career saves. She needs to play 526 more minutes to break through the minutes played category and remains three wins short of moving up to sixth in career wins.
UP NEXT: The Saints remain at home to host Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wed, August 25 @ 7:00 p.m.
