Junior MaryJo Rana Scored Her First Goal of Her ASU Career

SPRINGFIELD, MO ? The Arkansas State soccer team opened the 2005 regular season in heartbreaking fashion as the Lady Indians lost a 2-1 game at Southwest Missouri State in overtime at the Cooper Sports Complex on Friday afternoon. The Lady Indians took their first lead of the season in the 84th minute but could not stop SMS from tying the game and sending it to overtime.

“We played with a tremendous effort today and had a chance to win our first game of the year late in the game,” head coach Jason Wharton said. “Our effort and intensity was as good as it has been since our Denver game last season and that is the type of intensity we are looking for each and every game.

The Lady Indians (0-1-0) came out in the first half and held the Bears scoreless throughout the half despite being out-shot, 9-1. The Tribe came up with a key play in the waning minutes of the half as the Bears had multiple chances off of a corner kick. The Lady Indian defense held strong as freshman Kellye Hamm cleared a ball off of the line to save a sure SMS goal.

The second half started much like the first half until the 61st minute when play was halted due to thunderstorms. The game was delayed for 25 minutes before play resumed.

After the delay, both teams had chances to score the game's first goal but neither team was able to break through until the Tribe did in the 84th minute. Junior forward MaryJo Rana struck for the first goal of the season and her first goal of her ASU career. Rana corralled a pass from senior Shawna Sparks as she got behind the SMS goalkeeper and placed the ball in the back of the net to give the Tribe the 1-0 lead.

The Bears (1-0-0) responded quickly as they scored the game-tying goal just over a minute later as Allison Osmundson was able to beat ASU goalkeeper Brielan Smiechowski off of a pass from Jenna Dobkins.

The two teams played out the last few minutes of regulation without incident to send the game to overtime. The overtime game was the sixth overtime game in ASU program history and the first since last season against Drury.
SMS was able to pick up the victory in the 95th minute of the game as forward Kate Blair place a perfect shot over the head of Smiechowski to end the game.

The Lady Indians finished the game being out shot 25-5 by SMS as Smiechowski finished with six saves. SMS keeper Jackie Jasper notched one save to pick up the victory.

The Lady Indians will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Stillwater, Okla. to face Big 12 member Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. The game will be broadcast over the internet by going to www.okstate.com and accessing the audio broadcast link on the left hand side.

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