The University of Redlands women's soccer team ventured on Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action by squaring off against the University of La Verne Leopards on Saturday night in an important road-match. The Bulldogs played in their third double-overtime game of the season after surrendering a 2-1 lead and ultimately escaped with a 2-2 draw.
Redlands fired off five shots in the opening 45 minutes of action, as sophomore defender Sammie Burghardt (Gig Harbor, WA) and freshman midfielder Lauren Bay (Oak Park, CA) got the ball rolling offensively with one shot each.
In the 21st minute, senior midfielder Summer Norquist (Boise, ID) put the Bulldogs on the board with a 30-yard blast that found the back of the net for Redlands' 1-0 advantage.
Freshman midfielder Hayley Romo (Port Orchard, WA) fired off two shots in the final two minutes of play, but to no avail.
The Bulldogs saw their lead slip away early in the second frame after La Verne netted the equalizer in the 47th minute.
However, the Bulldogs quickly responded in the 54th minute, as senior midfielder Savannah Laursen (Boise, ID) teamed up with Romo to hammer home the go-ahead score from 20 yards out.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, La Verne answered once again, knotting the score up at 2-2 with 25 minutes left in regulation.
Norquist and Bay remained active in the latter portion of the second half but struggled to finish the job, resulting in the team's fifth overtime contest of the season.
La Verne held an advantage in the 98th minute after earning a penalty kick following a foul in the box. Senior goalkeeper Lexi Felix (Kailua, HI) had other plans by denying the golden opportunity and keeping the Bulldogs alive.
The Leopards earned eight opportunities on goal, but could not cash in, thanks to a brick wall of a defense led by senior Sam Keary (Mission Viejo, CA) and sophomore Faith Campbell (Bainbridge Island, WA).
After junior midfielder McKenzie Oliger (Seattle, WA) was the lone player to record a shot in both overtime periods for Redlands, the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Norquist led the way with three shots overall, while Bay and Romo fired off two each.
Felix hauled in four saves, while sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Menk (Pleasanton, CA) played a flawless 45 minutes between the posts as the starter.
The Bulldogs return home on Wednesday, October 7, to face off against the Occidental College Tigers under the lights at Farquhar Field for a 7 p.m. contest. The competition also kicks off the Maroon and Gray's involvement with Breast Cancer Awareness month.
