Box Score | Season Stats

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Being named MIAA Player of the Week certainly didn't prove to be a distraction for freshman forward Shonee Samia, who in her first start in over a month, scored three goals in a comeback win over the Missouri Southern Lions. Samia's hattrick forced overtime, where junior Kelly Isaac scored her first goal of the year to earn SBU the 4-3 victory.

Tied for fourth with the Bearcats in the MIAA standings, Missouri Southern used a strong home crowd to their advantage and attacked early and often in the opening minutes. The Lions broke through in the 23rd minute, when Danai Noftz put in a rebound after SBU goalkeeper Megan Link made one of her five saves of the night. Less than seven minutes later, MSSU's Sarah Evers scored, and the Lions took a 2-0 lead.

Missouri Southern didn't hold their two-goal lead for long. Samia scored the first of her three goals just thirty seconds after Southern's second goal, on a shot from the left side of the box that curved perfectly in the top right corner of the goal.

SBU went into halftime with the one goal deficit, even though they outshot the Lions, 12-7. Samia struck again in the 69th minute, collecting a rebounded shot and putting it through to tie the game at 2-2. The Wellington, New Zealand native earned her first collegiate hattrick in the 88th minute, putting SBU on top, 3-2, while forward Brittani Ready connected with the Kiwi for her eighth assist of the year.

The Lions were able to get by the Bearcat defenders about a minute later, as Megan Stueve scored the equalizer in the 89th minute, her first score of the year. SBU again controlled the tempo, as they outshot Missouri Southern, 11-5, and earned three corners compared to the Lions' two.

The first overtime was a bit of a defensive struggle, as senior Lindsey Boden got off the only shot of the period, although the Lions had a run in the 95th minute that was called offiside. The 'Cats took control in the second overtime period, however, and after two close shots in the opening minutes, team captain Kelly Isaac broke through for the game winning goal, her first of the year. "I think that was the best and most complete game we've played so far," said SBU head coach Rob Podeyn after the second double-overtime victory against Missouri Southern in the past three meetings. "I think it was pretty appropriate that the game winner came from our captain. She worked the whole game and did a lot of the little things you don't see in the box score."

Samia recorded the 16th hattrick in SBU history, and leads the team with five goals on the year. Brittani Ready's eight assist ties her for fifth all-time for most assists in a single season. With the win, SBU moves to 5-3-2 on the year, and 4-2-2 in the MIAA. The Bearcats will host Emporia State this Saturday, October 9, with kickoff scheduled for noon.