Heather Sanden came up with 17 saves as the Lady Buccaneer soccer team battled to a 0-0 tie in double overtime against Radford University Wednesday night at Liberty Bell soccer field.
“She (Sanden) played an exceptional game,” said head coach Heather Henson. “She kept us in the game and thinking we could win.”
The sophomore goal keeper was pressured by the Lady Highlanders’ attack all night, including a very important stretch at the start of the first overtime.
Radford’s Nikki Porter had three big scoring opportunites in the first overtime, but each time she was turned away by the Lady Bucs’ goal keeper.
“We really came together as a team tonight,” Henson said. “We battled, never gave up and played through it.”
In the second overtime the Lady Highlanders kept their attack going, as Radford’s Susan Melanson shot on goal came within inches of winning the game, but the ball drifted to the right of the goal post.
After almost two hours of action, 45-minute halves and two 15-minute overtimes, the Lady Bucs (0-2-1) had their best shot to take home the victory in the second overtime.
With close to 10 seconds remaining, senior Lisa Gallagher drove down the field, but her shot went wide right and the remaining seconds ticked away.
It was the third meeting between ETSU and Radford over the last three years, in what has become quite a rivalry, featuring very physical play from both teams.
With a lot of bumping, pushing, shoving and elbows being thrown, all those in attendance were reminded that soccer can be a tough sport.
“Soccer is a contact sport,” Henson said. “This team will never have a dull moment, we have a lot of personalities on this team.”
ETSU kept its undefeated record against the Lady Highlanders at 1-0-2, having won last year’s contest at Radford 3-2.
The Lady Bucs added another challenge for the upcoming season, learning a new playing system, which has changed since the preseason practices.
“We’ve only played this system two times,” Henson said. “I’m proud of them as a young team to be able to change systems like they have.”
The Lady Bucs will be back in action on Sept. 9 when they travel to South Carolina State.
Their next home game will be on Sept 14 against Birmingham Southern.

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