Hays provides game-winner to lift Storm in overtime

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- Freshman Maddie Hays played the hero for Simpson College women's soccer in a 2-1 victory in overtime against Knox on Wednesday.

"Tonight was a gritty win for our team," head coach Jeremy Reinert said. "I felt like we were able to dictate the pace of the game and really limit the impact of Knox offensively. We've been prioritizing possession and improving our build-up play and that showed tonight."

Two minutes into the overtime stanza, junior Cassie Nash drew a hard foul inside the box that warranted a penalty kick for the Storm (2-1-0) in the 92nd minute. Hays was tasked with the game-winner and buried the shot into the upper-right 90 for the team's second straight win over the Prairie Fire (0-3-0).

"I'm so proud of Maddie," Reinert said. "She's been an immediate impact to our team. She's playing at a really high level and has elite composer from the PK spot. What a moment for her at this stage in her career; that was special."

After getting her first career goal wiped away by a foul in last Saturday's contest, freshman Liz Naasz finally earned her first netter. Junior Brooklin Froehlich lobbed a corner kick in front of the net that bounced off of junior Abby Cozzoni to a waiting Naasz, who chipped it in for an early lead in the seventh minute.

"Liz's goal was momentous tonight," he said. "She's had a great start to her career. For her to get on the stat sheet tonight was a great reward for all she's been able to do behind the scenes so far."

Simpson held the lead during the rest of the half by allowing Knox to take just two shots during the first 45 minutes of action.

The Prairie Fire took advantage of a miscue by the Storm defense to connect on the equalizer in the 55th minute off the foot of Brooklyn Deming. Knox has now scored in four of the five contests during the series, which began in 2016.

Simpson looked poised to regain control in the second half by rattling off 12 shots, but could not find the back off the net with only one on-target.

Cozzoni ended with five shots, Megan Roberts and Naasz both had four and Julia Wagoner connected on three. As a whole, the offense ended with 22 shots and held the Prairie Fire to just five.

"Soccer is a tough sport," he said. "You can dominate in all the important statistical categories, but the only one that matters at the end is the score."

Sophomore Brenny Frederick earned her first victory of the season with two saves during 92 minutes of work. Her counterpart, Carina Escobar, ended with three saves in the losing effort.

Up Next
Simpson hits the road this weekend to begin a four-match road trip. The Storm visit Wisconsin-Platteville for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday.