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OXFORD, Ohio - Senior Brooke Livingston scored in the 88th minute to help the Miami University women's soccer earn a comeback, double-overtime draw against Eastern Michigan Sunday afternoon at chilly Miami Soccer Field. The tie was the first of the year for the RedHawks (9-3-1, 2-1-1 Mid-American Conference) while the Eagles (5-5-3, 2-0-2 MAC) remained unbeaten in league play. Miami wore pink jerseys in the game as part of Think Pink for breast cancer awareness.

Miami controlled play early but Eastern Michigan was the first to find the back of the net, as Cara Cutaia headed in her first goal of the year in the 37th minute after Stephanie Clarke crossed the ball over the RedHawk defense.

Miami came right back after the goal and threatened to even the score, but senior Sara Lund's shot at the 39:51 mark was blocked by an Eagle defender just in front the goal line. Less than two minutes later the RedHawks again nearly knotted the contest when sophomore Jess Kodiak fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box but it ricocheted off the crossbar and harmlessly out of play.

With EMU holding its 1-0 lead at the break, the Red and White came out in the second half aggressively trying to even the score, but Eastern Michigan goalkeeper Monique Budani managed to turn away seven shots on goal.

Junior Courtney Clarke put her head on a corner kick from Kodiak, but Budani turned it away in the 85th minute. Junior Giselle Mangal then fired a shot off the rebound but Budani managed to get back in position and make another save.

"The goalkeeper was amazing," head coach Bobby Kramig said of Budani. "She absolutely made the difference in this game."

In the 87th minute freshman Sam Whitmore made another run at the Eagles' goal, but again Budani denied her, deflecting Whitmore's shot out of bounds.

On the subsequent corner kick, Miami finally struck. Whitmore took the corner and sent it into the box past Budani who tried to snatch the ball off the corner. Livingston found herself in the right place as she was able to use a header to score the equalizer. It was her second tally of the season.

In the two overtimes both keepers protected the tie. Miami took six shots in the extra sessions while EMU managed four as Budani made a trio of saves and Miami redshirt freshman keeper Kris Gasparovic countered with four of her own, including three in the second overtime.

"I thought Julie Thompson probably played the best game I've ever seen her play in four years here at Miami. She was absolutely superb and I'm really, really proud of her for that," Kramig said. "Kris Gasparovic was pretty good as well. Certainly in the second half she picked it up. She made a couple of great saves for us."

When the final horn sounded, Gasparovic had made 10 saves on 11 shots on goal while Budani stopped 11 of the 12 she faced. The `Hawks held a 25-15 advantage overall in shots and also had a commanding 12-3 edge in corner kicks.

"We try to be a little patient and disciplined in our chances, so for us to take 20 plus shots is a lot," Kramig said. "That doesn't reflect very well on our play in the final third and our ability to finish chances. We have to get better."

With its six-game home stand in the books, Miami hits the road Friday, Oct. 8 at Ball State at 4 p.m.

--MURedHawks.com--