MT. PLEASANT, Mich. – A 98th minute Central Michigan goal lifted the Chippewas to a 1-0 overtime victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Thursday night (Sept. 30) at the CMU Soccer Complex. Samantha Kaye-Toral claimed the game-winner for Central Michigan. 

"I was pleased with the way we were competing," said NIU head coach Julie Colhoff. "We came in ready to fight, for as long as it took, and I think overall there was some pretty good execution of what our game plan was. The thing we said at the end was there were just a couple mental lapses that if we had tightened up, I think would have helped us secure the tie, but hopefully get us the win."

Central Michigan's game winner came as the Chippewas sent a cross to near the top of the NIU six-yard box. The ball took a bounce and a Huskie defender attempted to volley it away from goal, but Kaye-Toral stretched a foot into the path of the clearance and deflected the ball into the back of the NIU net to give the Chippewas the victory. 

NIU goalkeeper Sadie McGill (Fort Worth, Texas/North Texas) finished the night with seven saves, Central Michigan goalkeeper Allison LaPoint had four stops in the contest. CMU improved to 4-5, 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference, with the win, NIU dropped to 4-7, 1-2 in league play. 

The Huskies and Chippewas engaged in a cagey opening 20 minutes with little in the way of chances coming to either side. 

In the 23rd minute, Gaelle Wells had a look at goal from outside the box that was fought off by McGill for a Central Michigan corner. 

The two teams combined for just four shots on target in the opening 45 minutes, with Haley Hoppe (Austin, Texas/Rouse) forcing a save from LaPoint in the 39th minute, as the Huskies and Chippewas went into halftime still in search of an opening goal. 

A free kick just over 10 minutes into the second half gave Central Michigan a chance from about 25 yards. Maria Kaschalk took the set piece that was comfortably collected by McGill in the 57th minute. 

Two minutes later, NIU earned a corner and Hoppe rose above the crowd, but her header went wide of the Central Michigan target. 

Just past the hour mark, Hoppe had another chance as a Huskie free kick in the Chippewa third of the field was floated to the back post inside the six-yard box but Hoppe's header went just high. 

With four minutes remaining in regulation, Hoppe turned near the corner of the 18-yard box and sent a shot on goal that was scooped up by LaPoint as the game headed to overtime still scoreless. 

NIU will return home on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 3, when the Huskies host Eastern Michigan. Kickoff against the Eagles is scheduled for 2 p.m.