Pearson's Overtime Score Lifts Indiana, 4-3, over Kent State

Friday, October 2

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

(6-4)

Kent State

(2-7)

OT 2

Kent State

Indiana

Pearson's Overtime Score Lifts Indiana, 4-3, over Kent State

10/2/2015 6:49:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

The Hoosiers emerge victorious in their first overtime challenge of 2015

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This year's Indiana field hockey team hit another stride on Friday afternoon.

After conceding the game-tying goal to Kent State with five minutes to play, forcing overtime, the Hoosiers rallied on the attack and won in the sudden-death overtime period. It was Indiana's first overtime win since the 2013 season.

The game didn't play out how they had planned, but the Hoosiers (6-4, 2-0) are embracing the dramatic win as a great learning opportunity.

"It's good experience, because eventually in the season we'll hit those overtime games," said senior defender Sydney Supica. "It's good to get that experience in the beginning of the season for when we take teams into overtime later in the year. We have that experience, and have now won in overtime, so we know what that feels like."

Indiana's game-winning score came in similar fashion to many of the Hoosier goals this season, from a penalty corner. Freshman forward Claire Woods earned the corner and inserted the ball for Kate Barber. Barber coolly drove to the left side of the goal, where she found Taylor Pearson for the decisive overtime score.

The win was hard earned for the Hoosiers, who at one point led 3-1 in the game. Kent State rallied with two scores in eight minutes to force the overtime period. It seemed that the Golden Flashes had the momentum headed into the overtime period, but the Hoosiers kept level heads and played their brand of field hockey.

"We keep our heads up and know we have time on the clock to get it back," Supica said regarding the team's mentality at the end of the game." We just keep pushing forward, play our game, and try not to let it get under our skin."

The Hoosiers knew they would get a hard-fought match from Kent State (2-7, 1-0). The Golden Flashes turned up the pressure in Indiana's defensive third, but the Hoosier back line—Supica, Barber, Malia Fujisawa, Nora Aucker, and goalkeeper Noëlle Rother —combined for a clutch performance when they most needed it.

"Our defense played really well," said Indiana head coach Amanda Janney. "They made a couple of great plays down the stretch, and Noëlle had another fantastic performance. She kept us in the game."

The Hoosiers were first on the board in this contest in the 11^th minute, when Rachel Stauffer scored from the penalty spot off of an assist by Morgan Dye. Kent State equalized four minutes later, but two unanswered goals from Maddie Latino gave the Hoosiers their 3-1 lead.

Pearson's game-winning goal was her second score of the season. According to her head coach, Pearson's goal exemplifies her outstanding playmaking ability and what she brings to Indiana's attack.

"She's so smooth under pressure, very poised and composed," Janney said of the second-year midfielder. "I can't believe she's only a sophomore, she plays like a very experienced player. We're very happy for her that she scored a big goal today."

Following that win, their fourth in non-conference play, the Hoosiers head to Ann Arbor to square off against the No. 18 Michigan Wolverines. It's a return to their Big Ten schedule, in which the Hoosiers are unbeaten with wins over Iowa and Northwestern. It's also a return home for Supica, an Ann Arbor native who's excited for the opportunity to play in front of friends and family.

"It's awesome," Supica said. "This will be my final time being able to play in front of my home crowd and all of my friends. It will be a good experience to bring my teammates back home with me, as well as experiencing Ann Arbor."

Indiana pursues a 3-0 start in Big Ten play for the first time since 2006 in Sunday's game against Michigan. The game commences at 1:00 p.m. ET and will air on BTN2Go.com.

Follow the action at IUHoosiers.com.