Sells scores twice in CSU's 2-2 tie with Morehead State in Nike Challenge 2 finale

Sunday, September 13

1 pm

Charleston Southern University Athletics

2-1-2

Morehead St.

3-4-1

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Morehead St.	2	0	0	2
Charleston So.	0	2	0	2

Sells scores twice in CSU's 2-2 tie with Morehead State in Nike Challenge 2 finale

9/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Anna Sells scored a pair of second half goals and Alyssa Dellacqua made a leaping grab in the first overtime period as Charleston Southern rallied back from a two goal deficit to tie with Morehead State on Sunday afternoon at the CSU Soccer Field, 2-2.

Sells scored a pair of goals for the second time this season and the fifth time in her career at CSU as the junior forward took a pair of passes from Erica Gazzani and found the net in the 57th and the 85th minutes to send the game into overtime.

Anna is a really talented player," said CSU head coach Eric Terrill. "She has come up big twice this season when we've really needed her. Erica has been lights out for us so far; she has been playing her tail off and I'm really excited about how well she has played so far this season. Kelsey (Fitzhugh) had a huge game as well and won a ton of balls for us. That isn't something that shows up in that stats, but without her play, we aren't in this one."

The Bucs (2-1-2) pressured the Eagles defense throughout the second half and during both overtime periods as CSU out-shot Morehead State (3-4-1) 13-5 over the final 65 minutes.

"We had lots of opportunities, point blank, at the end of the second half and in both overtimes," Terrill commented. "We really could have walked out of here with a win. But, with the way we played in that first half, we really had to fight for that draw."

Dellacqua came into the game at the start of the second half and made one save in recording the decision for the Bucs. Jazmin Gonzalez started the game in goal for CSU recording two saves over the first 45 minutes of play.

"We are a young team," said CSU head coach Eric Terrill. "We made some adjustments at halftime, but sometimes the way we play is based on our confidence. Morehead State is a well-coached team and really challenged us. I thought they outplayed us early on, especially in that first half. They forced us to make adjustments, and we did. We played a lot better in that second half."

With the Buccaneers trailing 2-0 at the break, CSU got on the board in the 57th minute as Gazzani directed a header off the throw-in toward Sells' feet. The junior forward collected the ball and dribbled left before firing a shot past MSU's Washburn into the right corner of the net to put the score at 2-1.

CSU continued to challenge in the second half, utilizing the speed of Frankeny to create several opportunities as the Bucs outshot the Eagles 9-1 in the period. Frankeny missed a pair of breakaway attempts in the 69th and the 83rd minutes as the Eagles held onto the lead late.

After a Morehead State foul in the 85th minute, Gazzani alertly took the free kick as the Eagles were setting up their wall, finding an open Sells in the box. She turned and fired the shot from 10 yards out into the left corner of the net to tie the match up at 2-2.

Sells nearly ended the game in the 89th minute, but her shot was corralled by Washburn as the teams went into overtime.

In the first overtime period, the Eagles nearly pulled out the golden goal in the 99th minute as Angela Black fired from 12 yards out toward the upper left corner of the net. Dellacqua made the diving save to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard and send it to the second overtime.

Gazzani had a pair of header opportunities and Kelsey Fitzhugh had a shot on goal in the 107th minute, but the Bucs were unable to find the net as the teams settled for the tie.

Morehead State took the 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a pair of goals scored less than four minutes apart as Kristi Gomez found the back of the net in the 29th minute, while Lauren Duffy scored in the 33rd minute. Dani Wilson assisted on both goals to give the Eagles the halftime advantage.

Charleston Southern is back in action on Friday afternoon as CSU hosts College of Charleston for the Silver Cup at the CSU Soccer Field. Kickoff between the Bucs and the Cougars is set for 4 p.m.