Determined Dawgs use second half comeback to earn draw vs Bulldogs
Saluki freshman Madison Bennion celebrates after making the first goal of the match on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2019 during the Salukis’ 2-0 win against the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars at the Lew Hartzog Track & Field Complex.
On Sunday, Southern Illinois (3-2-2, 0-0-1) opened their Missouri Valley Conference play against the Drake Bulldogs (1-5-3, 0-0-1). Things didn’t look good for the Dawgs to continue their undefeated streak early, however, through a resilient effort, SIU stormed back from down 2-0 to tie it up for the 2-2 final score, preventing their streak of no losses from ending.
On the stat board, junior Sam Dodd lit it up with five shots including two on goal, with one of those resulting in a goal for SIU. Senior Liz Brechtel assisted Sam on one of her goals and added a shot on goal as well. Senior Quinn Parks tallied a solo goal herself off her only shot to tie the game up late.
On defense, senior goalkeeper Maddie Alaluf got the nod, saving five shots while allowing two early goals.
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The Salukis didn’t get off to the start they wanted, allowing a goal in the first eight minutes of play to the Bulldogs. Dodd sent off three shots quickly after to try to get the point back, but none rolled into the net. In the 37th minute, the Bulldogs earned another goal to add to their lead, leaving things bleak for the Salukis streak going into the end of the period.
Trying to get back into it, the Salukis let off six shots quickly to try to get things rolling their way again, but still, none of them went through. That was until Brechtel found Dodd for their first goal in the 83rd minute.
No more than two minutes later, a corner kick allowed Parks to get the clearing for her goal, thrusting the Salukis back into a tie game late. Some last-minute shots and a corner kick by Drake attempted to break the late tie, but Alaluf was there to keep SIU in it for their second tie of the season.
The Dawgs will look to get back in the win column and use their second-half momentum when they face newly arrived MVC team, Belmont, next Sunday with a 1 pm kickoff time.
Sports editor Joseph Bernard can be reached at [email protected] or on twitter @Jojobernard2001.
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