Northern Illinois University issued the following announcement on Oct. 17
Grace Louis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) scored her first career goal on Senior Day as the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team earned a 1-1 draw against Buffalo on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 17) at the NIU Soccer Complex. The Bulls opened the scoring in the first half before Louis earned the Huskies a point with her 55th minute tally.
"In the past two games we have definitely picked it up from what we have seen previously," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "Obviously we still need to finish off the game and put the ball in the back of the net, but it is good to see that resilient spirit and, today, being able to come back from being down a goal."
Buffalo (10-3-2, 4-2-2 MAC) went in front just eight minutes into the contest as Marcy Barberic converted from the penalty spot. NIU was whistled for a handball in the box and Barberic stepped up to slot the penalty in the net, giving the visitors the early lead.
Five minutes later, Barberic played a one-two on the edge of the box before taking a shot that was well held by NIU goalkeeper Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook).
NIU (4-10-2, 1-5-2 MAC) tested Buffalo goalkeeper Emily Kelly for the first time in the 34th minute as a shot from Amanda Czerniak (South Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) was stopped by Kelly.
Six minutes before halftime, Buffalo won a corner and Kaya Schultz was able to get a shot from just inside the top of the box. Schultz's dipping attempt caromed off the crossbar and out of play as the Bulls took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Lentz made a pair of saves early in the second half to keep the Huskies close and that paid off in the 55th minute when Louis pulled NIU level.
Czerniak picked up a deflected ball inside the box on the right side and clipped it toward the top of the six-yard box. Louis ran onto the ball and fired a shot that hit the hands of Kelly but spun off the post and into the net to tie the game at one.
Three minutes later the Huskies were on the attack again as Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) won a header off a corner, but Kelly was able to make the stop.
The match was still tied with just over five minutes left in regulation time when Barberic fired a shot from a tight angle that was caught by Lentz as the Huskies and Bulls would head to overtime.
In the first overtime period, Buffalo had four shots, but only one on goal, which came in the final minute of the first extra period. Olivia Bizzoni didn't catch everything with her volley attempt, but enough to put the ball on target and forced Lentz to make a stop.
Buffalo had two more attempts off target in the second extra period before NIU had the final chance as Hoppe's cross found Abby McHugh (Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda) near the top of the box, but with a defender closing quickly, McHugh fired high in the 107th minute as the Huskies and Bulls were forced to share the points.
Lentz made five saves in the contest for NIU, Kelly had a pair of saves for Buffalo.
NIU will close the home portion of its 2021 schedule on Thursday, Oct. 21, when the Huskies host Miami. Kickoff against the RedHawks is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Original source can be found here.
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