DePaul University Athletics
Strickland & Co. Put On a Winning Show
9/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Sept. 5, 2010
Bluetube: Highlights vs. Miami (Ohio)
CHICAGO - The combination of Tara Strickland, Ashleigh Goddard, Rebekah Roller, Callie Hemming and Alyssa Wray put on an entertaining show Sunday at Wish Field.
There was a little bit of almost everything in DePaul's 3-2 victory over Miami (Ohio) that absolutely delighted the Blue Demon partisans.
The curtain-raiser was Callie Hemming's composed, take-your-time-and-drill-it shot off a feed from Wray that tied the match at 1-1 in the 38th minute.
It compensated for Katy Dolesh's score for Miami (3-2-0) in the 30th minute.
Roller had the Wish Field crowd buzzing after her rare goal off a corner kick early in the second half (57th minute).
"I was trying to send it to the back post," said Roller, a freshman defender. "The wind helped me a little and it went in. I was really excited about my first college goal.
"We had been making some pretty good runs at the net on other corner kicks. Maybe their goalie (Madison Ryan) was trying to make sure all of our players were marked up.
"I think I got us going again. The team needed the extra boost."
Just 5 minutes and 44 seconds later, it was the RedHawks who seized the momentum after Jess Kodiak scored from close range.
And just when it looked like DePaul (3-2-1) was headed for its second overtime match this weekend (1-1, double-overtime tie with Missouri on Friday), Goddard and Strickland came to the rescue.
Goddard made a nifty move on a Miami defender, tapping the ball and then running around her to regain possession. The freshman delivered a sweet pass to Strickland, who scored the game-winner from 20 yards out in the 86th minute.
This was the same Strickland who had already launched eight shots, to no avail. One of her attempts glanced off the crossbar. Another time she had an opening but shot it a little wide.
"It's been a little frustrating having so many close calls," said Strickland, who led the Demons last year with seven goals. "I've been itching to get a goal, and it finally came.
"Ashleigh made a great pass, and I was wide open on the far side. I had been rushing my shots earlier. I took a little more time and thought to myself: `No way, I'm not going to miss this time.'"
These Blue Demons continue to tough it out despite missing three key starters.
"We created scoring chances and scored three times," said De Paul coach Erin Chastain. "Two of those goals, Callie and Tara were very composed in the scoring moment. And on that corner-kick goal, we got a little lucky.
"Overall, we have to be more disciplined---especially on Sundays when everyone is a little fatigued from Friday's game.
"We played a lot of young kids (five freshmen), and they are all getting some valuable experience."
Strickland and Goddard said the Blue Demons are gaining resolve while confronting the early-season adversity.
"The injuries are making us learn how to play together even better as a team," Goddard said.
"It's motivating our team," Strickland added. "Injuries can happen to anyone. We want to play well for the people who can't get out there."
DePaul's next match is 4 p.m. Friday at Michigan State.
NOTES: Strickland's goal was the 12th of her career, tying the Libertyville senior for sixth place all-time with Margo Sackmaster (2002-05) and Jennifer Dyer (2004-07)... Strickland now has 36 career points, placing her sixth all-time... behind Strickland's nine shots, DePaul outshot Miami (Ohio) 16-7 with eight shots on goal to six for the RedHawks... Morgan Celaya and Kelly Blumberg each had two shots for the Blue Demons... DePaul outshot Miami 11-4 in the second half... Hemming leads the team with two goals and two assists for six points... Lauren Pagone has two goals (four points) while Strickland (one goal, one assist) and Blumberg (one goal, one assist) have three points... Strickland has taken 16 shots on the season, and Celaya has 11.
