Junior Kelly Mahan scored the decisive goal just 35 seconds after entering the game in the second overtime period to give Illinois State a 3-2 win over Butler in non-conference action at Varsity Field in Indianapolis, Ind., Sunday.
The Redbirds improve to 4-2 overall (0-1 in the Valley) while Butler drops its first game of the season, posting a 4-1-1 record.
Mahan, who entered the game less than a minute earlier, took a pass from teammate Megan OConnor and found the net from ten yards away on the left side at the 112:30 mark to end the tightly contested match.
Butler grabbed an early 1-0 lead on an open net goal by Amy Morrison seven minutes into the game. Junior Angie Roth of ISU, following a pass from sophomore Chrystal Johnston, tied the contest for the Redbirds at 30:45, but the Bulldogs went back in front four minutes later when Kara Bryan drilled a shot into the net.
Butlers 2-1 halftime lead held up until the 74:14 mark, when sophomore Annie Wayland of scored her fifth goal of the season off a pass from senior Sarah Moss. The game ended at 2-2 and both teams were scoreless through the first 15-minute overtime period.
Illinois State had a 14-8 advantage in shots in the contest. Redbird goalkeeper Becky Feldmann had three saves while Butler goalkeeper Tricia Czerniak finished with two.
Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall said after the game that it was a great road win for his team, especially after two back-to-back games with two overtimes.
It was a really great road win for this team, considering last weekend we did the same thing with Evansville but lost in the second overtime, Kowall said. But we hung on this time, coming out ready to play in the second half. (Assistant Coach) Jackie Billet had a great motivational speech at halftime that the team really responded to.
The girls just came out ready to play in the second half and overtime, Kowall continued. They showed a lot of character to come back and stick with the game. They just kept going and the results were a win.
Next up for Illinois State is a non-conference match against Illinois at Adelaide Street Field. The Redbirds host the Fighting Illini at 4 p.m. Friday, September 21.
