Incarnate Word freshman Kelsie Asher was subbed into Sunday's match against West Texas A&M University with just under one minute to play in regulation with the score tied at 1-1.
Roughly five minutes of game-time later, Asher was getting mobbed by her teammates near the WTAMU net after she scored the game-winning goal in the first overtime period to give UIW the 2-1 victory.
Asher, from Spring Ranch, Texas, was streaking down the right ride of the field and closing in on the right post of the Lady Buffs' net as teammate Sarah Hernandez was dribbling and battling against a WTAMU defender on the left side of the goal. Hernandez was able to cut back and get enough space to thread a pass from the left post to the right post, just ahead of the trailing defender trying to prevent Asher from getting the ball.
Asher was just one step ahead of the defender and she made WTAMU pay, one-timing a shot under the crossbar to beat the West Texas goalkeeper.
The goal was Asher's third of the season and her second game-winner. Incarnate Word is now 8-3-2 overall on the season and 6-1 in Lone Star Conference play.
Incarnate Word and West Texas traded goals in the first half, with freshman Amber Guenther sending a pass low and just feet in front of the WTAMU goal for senior Lauren Evans, who tapped the ball in near the left post for her first score of the season. The goal was scored in the 12th minute and the pass was Guenther's fifth assist of the year.
The Lady Buffs, however, responded in the 35th minute, when Kelsey Wright put her foot on a loose ball bouncing around in traffic in the UIW penalty area that somehow found a way through a sea of legs for the equalizer.
UIW will play host to Midwestern State University at 6 p.m. on Friday night as part of a Cardinal women-and-men doubleheader against the Mustangs (the men are scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m.). Friday's LSC matchup will be senior night for the Cardinals.
