PELLA, Iowa – For the second straight match the Nebraska Wesleyan women's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker in overtime as Central College scored the game-winning goal in the first overtime period to defeat the Prairie Wolves 3-2 in IIAC action on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 11) in Pella, Iowa.
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Oliva Denham scored the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining in the overtime period to clinch the victory for the Dutch. Central moves to 11-2-1 overall and 3-1 in IIAC play, while the Prairie Wolves drop to 6-8 and 2-3 in IIAC action. NWU was coming off an overtime loss on Saturday to Coe College.
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Central College jumped ahead early in Tuesday's afternoon matinee. The Dutch wasted little time to light up the scoreboard with a goal by Erin Manion in the 5
th minute of the match. They added to their first half total with a goal by Olivia Stoops in the 34
th minute to lead 2-0 at intermission.
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Nebraska Wesleyan rallied back in the second half behind the leg of
Natalie Graves. Graves scored a pair of goals to raise her season total to five for the year. Her first goal came right after halftime to cut the Central lead in half.
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With time running out in the match, Graves made a clutch goal to tie the match. Her second goal of the match came with just 30 seconds left, sending the match into overtime.
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Once into overtime, Central had four shot attempts with the final shot the game-winner by Denham. NWU was unable to get off a shot in the overtime period.
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NWU will try to bounce back on Sunday when they return home to face 11
th-ranked and IIAC leader Luther College at Abel Stadium. The match is scheduled to start at 1 pm.
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