Simmons Double-Overtime Header Lifts Spartans to 2-1 Victory versus Baldwin-Wallace

BEREA, Ohio – Junior midfielder Kendra Simmons (Medina, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) sent a header into the back of the Baldwin-Wallace College net with 2:58 showing on the clock in the second overtime period propelling the Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team to a 2-1 non-conference victory on Tuesday night on Tressel Field at The George Finnie Stadium.

With the thrilling win, the Spartans, ranked fourth in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Great Lakes regional poll, improve to 5-1-1 on the season. With the loss, Baldwin-Wallace dips to 4-3.

Simmons headed the game-winning goal, her third decisive goal of the fall, off a corner kick from junior midfielder Deena Levey (Columbus, Ohio/Bexley). Simmons also utilized her head scoring the game-winning score back on September 9 in a 1-0 double-overtime victory at Case Field against Grove City College (Pa.).

The visitors got on the board in the 10^th minute when junior forward Devyn Lee (Pennsylvania Furnace, Pa./State College) took an initial shot that was blocked by a Yellow Jacket defender, but she tapped the rebound into the back of the B-W net for her second goal in as many matches. The score remained 1-0 headed into halftime with the Spartans possessing a narrow 4-3 advantage in shots.

In the second stanza, Baldwin-Wallace got on the board and knotted the score at 1-1 in the 61^st minute with a goal by Rachel Gokey on an assist by Brigitte Petrash. Case then looked to go ahead when senior midfielder Alexandra Litofsky (Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge) laced a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the pitch in the 75^th minute.

Case again held a slight advantage in shots after 90 minutes, 9-8. Both defenses clamped down as neither team was able to muster a shot during the first 10-minute overtime session.

In goal, senior captain Anna Kennedy (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) continues her dominance this fall. She recorded six saves and improved to 5-1-1 between the pipes. The Yellow Jacket's Gabrielle Bodo made four stops in the loss.

For the game, Case outshot Baldwin-Wallace, 11-9, and held a slight advantage in corner kicks, 3-2.

Case Western Reserve returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 24, when they host North Coast Athletic Conference opponent The College of Wooster at 7:30 p.m. at Case Field.