DEKALB, Ill. – Senior Kelsey Chope (San Jose, Calif./Leland) scored in the eighth minute and junior goalkeeper Megan Donnally (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) made 10 saves as the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against Miami (Ohio) on Sunday afternoon at the NIU Soccer Complex. 

"That is two games in a row where our defense, our goalkeeper, and collectively defensively as a group we have executed our game plan very well," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "Obviously we are still missing that final push to get a 'W' but it was definitely a step in the right direction."

NIU (2-9-2, 0-5-1 MAC) took the early lead as Chope scored her fourth career goal less than 10 minutes into the contest. The initial chance came to senior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) whose shot was stopped by Miami goalkeeper Izzie Vaccari, but the rebound popped out to Chope who nestled a shot into the back of the net to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. 

Miami (3-9-1, 2-3-1 MAC) nearly equalized in the 17th minute as Olivia Winnett's shot ricocheted off the crossbar and off Donnally but stayed out of the net. 

In the 38th minute, the RedHawks had another good opportunity as Bronwen Sears found herself alone on goal after a Huskie defender slipped, firing a shot from about 10 yards that Donnally was able to smother. 

Just a minute later, freshman Nicolette Gossage (Moneka, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) had a chance from a tight angle for the Huskies that was palmed away by Vaccari for a corner as NIU took a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

The first good opportunity of the second half came on a scramble in front of the NIU goal in the 63rd minute when Soph Spinell had a shot blocked before the Huskies were able to clear the ball from the box. 

Miami levelled the contest seven minutes later as a low cross from Spinell skipped through the NIU box to the back post where Kristina DeMarco slotted it past Donnally to tie the game, 1-1. 

Both teams had chances in the final minutes of regulation. Miami's Jordan King had a free kick just outside the box after a NIU handball, whistling the chance just high of the Huskie goal in the 84th minute. Two minutes later, senior Jennie Nailor (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Hoffman Estates) had a go from a free kick for the Huskies, but she also fired high.

Donnally came up with one final save in regulation, tipping an effort from Emily Sexton over the top of the crossbar in the 88th minute as the match went to overtime. 

Kennedy Gray had a shot stopped by Donnally in the 92nd minute and Gossage streaked toward goal for the Huskies before sending her shot wide in the 93rd minute as neither team could find a winner in the first 10 minute extra period. 

In the second overtime, Donnally made a point-blank stop on a shot from Winnett in the 107th minute but the Huskie junior goalkeeper had to come off injured after making the stop. Sophomore Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) came on for the final moments and recorded a save on a shot by King with about 45 seconds remaining as the Huskies and RedHawks shared the points. 

NIU will return to the road next weekend as the Huskies travel to Buffalo on Friday, October 18 and Akron on Sunday, October 20.