Natasha Walters provided the late game heroics for the Lady Bruins as the senior scored two goals, including the overtime winner in the Bruins 3-2 victory over Spartanburg Methodist College on Saturday evening. "Scoring in overtime was amazing," Walters said. "The crowd was going crazy and it was a great feeling to score in my last home game." 

It was homecoming weekend and senior night here at BJU for the Lady Bruins as a season-high 1,094 fans packed into Alumni stadium. The Bruins welcomed a strong Pioneers team who entered the match with a 13-5 record. The Bruins were coming off a 2-0 loss to St. Andrews University earlier in the week and were looking to get back on track in the final match before the region playoffs. 

In the opening minutes, the two teams went back and forth with both having chances on frame. Goalkeeper Kristen Haertlein made several saves to keep the Pioneers scoreless, but the Bruins attack couldn't seem to sustain consistent offensive runs. In the 28th minute of play, the Pioneers broke into the scoring column as striker Taniqua Mungin was able to get the ball past Haertlein off a great through ball from Brittany Heri to make it 1-0. The Bruins tried to counter, but the team was outshot by SMC 12-4 in the first half as the team trailed 1-0 at the break. 

"At halftime I just gave the team some good ole fashioned motivation," said Coach Carmichael. "It was important for us to stay relaxed and take advantage of our scoring opportunities."

The Bruins fed off their coach's adjustments and came out strong with good posession and transition play in the opening minutes. Nataha Walters found the equalizer for the Bruins just 10 minutes into the second half as she scored on a rebound to tie the game at 1-1. The team extended their lead just minutes later as Walters was fouled just outside which awarded the Bruins a free kick. Mimi Lozano fired a shot on frame but it was deflected by the Pioneers defense right to the head of Kaitlyn Hummel who finished the play to put the Bruins in the lead 2-1. 

With the lead and time winding down, the Bruins defense stood strong against the Pioneers attack. But the team couldn't stop a brilliant equalizer as Pioneers midfielder Heather Blaszak scored from around 30-35 yards out to tie the game at 2-2. Both teams went back and forth in the closing minutes as the final buzzer meant this game would go to extra time. 

The Bruins came out strong in the overtime period and it didn't take long for the walkoff winner as Natasha Walters again provided the scoring touch as received a centering pass from Abby Davis and buried the shot to give the Bruins a golden goal 3-2 victory. 

"Hats off to Southern Methodist, they're a great team and they gave us a great match tonight," Head Coach Chris Carmichael said. "This match is a great game to help us prepare for regionals next week."  

Natasha Walters had two goals for the Bruins while Kaitlyn Hummel recorded her first goal of the season. Abby Davis had two assists on the night as the Bruins improved to 10-6 on the season. The Bruins enter the NCCAA DII South Regional tournament as the #1 ranked team and immediately punched their ticket to the region championship on October 29 at Alumni Stadium. The team will play the winner of Toccoa Falls College and Trinity Baptist College in the semi-final match on Thursday night.