Final Stats
CONWAY - The Coastal Carolina women's soccer team once again had a flair for the dramatic on Saturday as freshman Brenna Leftwich scored 2:37 into the second overtime period to give the Chanticleers a 1-0 win over High Point.
The first career goal by Leftwich came off an assist by Kacey Kelley to give Coastal its third overtime victory of the season - all coming at CCU Soccer Stadium. The Chants (6-5-1 overall) improved to a perfect 3-0 in Big South Conference play for the first time since 2008. The loss dropped High Point to 1-1-1 in the conference and 4-3-3 overall.
The game-winner was Coastal's only shot in the extra periods. High Point had recorded three - each of them missing the net high - before Kelley and Leftwich hooked up and converted the game winner.
After winning the ball off a throw-in near midfield, Daniella Famili sent a ball up the right side for Kelley to chase down deep in the Panthers' defensive third. Kelley got to it and immediately delivered a perfect cross into the six-yard box where Leftwich rushed in unmarked and neatly volleyed it out of the air into the top left part of the net. The freshman forward from Phoenix, Ariz., who missed the first six games of the season after having surgery during the summer, scored in her first collegiate start.
After going 17 overtime games without a win dating back to 2006, CCU has now won three of its four contests that have gone past regulation this season.
Neither team was able to generate consistent offensive pressure during a foul-filled game. Coastal had its best chances in the first half, while High Point mounted more of an attack in the second half.
Kelley, who entered the game leading the Big South in goals scored, came close to scoring on three occasions in the first 32 minutes. The first came on a rising shot from just inside the box that leaping High Point goalkeeper Alex Persiani was able to tip over the crossbar. In the 29th minute, Kelley ran down a long ball as it went into the right side of the box and ripped one off the near post from close range. Less than three minutes later, the senior hit the left post with a header off a rebound in a scramble in front after a Famili shot was blocked.
High Point's best chance of the opening half came with just over a minute and a half left on a free kick from 25 yards out by Taylor Romano that sailed over the goal.
The Panthers came out more aggressive in the second half and totaled 11 shots in the second 45-minute period. However, most of them went high or wide of the net while several others were routine saves for Coastal's Faith Farley. The junior goalkeeper did make a nice stop on an attempt inside the box by High Point's Bri Jean-Charles in the 67th minute to keep the scored tied at 0-0.
Coastal's best chance in the second half came on a header by Kelley that missed the net to the left in the 72nd minute.
High Point used 25 players in the game and appeared to have more energy late, but the Chanticleers managed to keep the Panthers from getting any close-in opportunities. HPU finished with a 19-12 shot advantage for the game, but just three of its attempts were on goal, compared to four for Coastal. The teams totaled 37 fouls and just three corner kicks.
Kelley added to her conference-leading shot total with seven more in the game. Farley totaled three saves. Becca Austin started the game in goal and did not face a shot in the first half.
Coastal remains at home to face Presbyterian College on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m.
