The UTM soccer team barely missed a victory over Southeastern Louisiana (SLU) last Friday afternoon, losing 2-1 in double overtime.

The Skyhawks started the game strong, scoring the only goal of the first half with 4:38 left before the break.

Sophomore forward Katie Jackson received a pass from sophomore Dani Myrick inside the box. Jackson found a hole in the bottom right corner of the goal, making the game 1-0. Myrick earned the assist.

SLU gained momentum early in the second half, scoring its first goal of the game two and a half minutes after the half. Kendra Oney scored after receiving a pass from Lindsay Garito. Garito earned the assist.

Defenses for both teams fought hard, keeping the score 1-1 throughout the game. This took the game into double overtime. The Skyhawks were unable to come up with one more goal in time to defeat SLU.

Early in the second overtime the Lady Lions scored the only goal they needed to win the game in sudden death. Oney returned to the box, netting the game-winning goal for the Lady Lions. Jen Mongiardi earned the assist. The final score was 2-1.

UTM outshot the Lady Lions 17-10. This would not be enough to bring in the win for the Skyhawks.

“We lost a lot of chances to score,” said Skyhawk head coach Nathan Pifer. “We have got to learn how to play a second half. Their offense fought a hard fight tonight and they turned out the victory. We just have to live and learn.”

On Sunday, Pifer was glad to see sophomore Katie Jackson score in the final minute of play against Arkansas-Little Rock.

Jackson’s goal was not the game winner, nor was it a goal that prevented the Skyhawks from getting shut out. Jackson’s goal, off an assist from junior Christina Moore, was the first scored by the Skyhawks in the second half of play this season.

It also gave the Skyhawks a 4-1 win over Arkansas-Little Rock and a second-place finish in the second annual Skyhawk Soccer Invitational, played last Friday and Sunday in Martin. Southeastern Louisiana, who defeated the Skyhawks 2-1 in double overtime Friday, won the invitational with a 2-2 tie Sunday against Murray State.

“I think we had the biggest milestone of this win when we scored in the second half,” Pifer said.

“We do fine in the first half of a match and we would probably be undefeated if we could play the first half the whole game.” “I am proud of the girls,” Pifer said. “They fought hard after a tough overtime game that they dominated and did not get the win. They bounced back today and got one and that shows a lot of character.

“Hopefully, we can keep working.”

The Skyhawks enjoyed a 1-0 lead when Kindal Keim scored 20 minutes into the match. Arkansas-Little Rock tied the score at 1-1 when Jennifer Heinrichs scored on a penalty kick.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Rachel Callahan took a pass from Tabitha Fishburn and put the Skyhawks up 2-1. Moore scored her first goal of the season about two minutes later when she took an assist from Ginger Schmitt.

Emily Miller, a member of last year’s Skyhawk team, was able to attend the Skyhawks’ match against Arkansas-Little Rock. Miller is currently undergoing chemotherapy for bone cancer. “I am really impressed,” Miller said after the game. “They are meshing together well. I am really proud. It is so wonderful to be out here watching them play today.”

Miller has six treatments to go, and she plans to see the Skyhawks play as much as possible.