LAKELAND -- Polk State Soccer freshman forward Lovelie Pierre had the last word on Wednesday evening, scoring the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute to lift the No. 16 Eagles to a 2-1 overtime win over No. 1 and reigning national champion Eastern Florida State College.
The Eagles (10-1, 2-1 Region 8) avenged a 3-2 loss to the Titans (8-1, 1-1 Region 8) in Melbourne just a week ago. In that one, Eastern Florida State erased a one-goal deficit with two goals after halftime. On Wednesday, the roles were reversed.
"I am very excited for Polk State Soccer today," emphasized Polk Head Coach Jess Belli. "What I was most proud of is how we when we went down a goal, this team kept fighting and did not give up. That is very special and something I am very proud of them for."
With the shot count being a slight 3-2 edge in favor of Polk for the first 15 minutes, it was Eastern Florida who struck first in the 24th minute. Sophomore Kailey Dunne sent a free kick into the gloves of Polk goalkeeper Sophia Nicholls that was ruled by the side official to have crossed the goal line while in the air.
Despite outshooting the Titans 8-5 in the first half, with four of those eight Polk shots on goal, the Eagles trailed 1-0 at the half.
The Eagles struggled to put a shot on frame in the early goings of the second half. Polk State went 25 minutes in the second half without registering a shot on goal.
In the 71st minute, freshman midfielder Melissa Del Valle relieved an injured Marcella Koasne. Just three minutes and 17 seconds after entering the contest, Del Valle volleyed a cross from Celine Ottah off the right side of her foot into the back of the net for the Eagles' equalizer.
"As soon as I stepped on the field, I knew it was go-time and that we only had 20 minutes left in the game, so I had to bring it," said Del Valle. "It was a beautiful cross from Celine and I am thankful that I was able to find it with the side of my foot."
With 67 seconds remaining in regulation, the Titans received what looked to be a match-deciding call in their favor. A Polk foul in the box resulted in a penalty kick opportunity for Eastern Florida's Lena Stevens. Nicholls made a play that will go down in Polk soccer history, as she dove to her left and deflected Stevens' kick to maintain the tie and ultimately send the match to overtime.
"I just kept my head space calm and tried to psych (Stevens) out by communicating nothing but confidence," noted Nichols. "She went left and I was able to guess correctly."
In the extra session, Pierre blasted a shot high 31 seconds in. In the 93rd minute, Pierre's sliding attack off a through ball from Ottah did not miss, as the Eagles earned the thrilling victory.
On Saturday, Polk State won at Daytona State College for the first time ever. This marks just the second time Polk has defeated Eastern Florida State in program history.
The Eagles look to carry the wave of momentum into the weekend for a two-game road set. Up first, Polk takes on Georgia Military College. Match time in Milledgeville, Ga. is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
