The University of Redlands women's soccer team took on Cal Lutheran University in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) matchup on Saturday afternoon. Although the Bulldogs fought hard through 100 minutes, the team ultimately fell, 1-2, in double overtime against the Regals.
CLU challenged senior goalkeeper Brittany Dinkins (Renton, WA) in the fifth and sixth minutes, but she stepped up each time for the save. On the second shot, she dove across the mouth of the goal to snatch the ball out of the air and prevent the score. Less than four minutes later, she protected the net once again on a breakaway down the left flank by the Regals.
The Bulldogs went on the attack in the 15th minute when junior midfielder Eva Vlassopoulos (Portland, OR) worked her way across the middle to lay a shot on target that was saved.
Although Cal Lutheran scored in the 20th minute, Vlassopoulos found the back of the net from 35 yards out off of a throw-in from senior forward Bryn Anderson (Tahoe City, CA) to equalize the score just five minutes later.
The Maroon and Gray defense showcased their talent by coming up with two field blocks on back-to-back attempts to help end the half in a 1-1 draw.
The Bulldogs earned a quality chance less than a minute into the second stanza from sophomore defender Ashley Holbrook (Moraga, CA), who launched a shot from the top of the box, but CLU made the save. Redlands defense was on display once again when senior midfielder Mel Johnson (Bremerton, WA) put her body on the line to block a powerful shot attempt off of a Regal corner kick to help keep the game at one-apiece.
Senior forward Skyla Wilson (Palm Desert, CA) nearly put one in after a shifty move across the middle in the 69th, but the shot missed wide left.
In net, first-year goalkeeper Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA) made an important play as she sprinted out of the box to hop on top of the ball to stop a dangerous attack from the Regals in the 73rd minute.
Neither team converted on their final attempts to send the game into its first overtime.
Redlands nearly scored the golden-goal off of a banger from senior forward Gabby Hart (Burien, WA) that required a defensive save from CLU in the 96th minute. Cal Lutheran had its chance two minutes later, but the shot hit the high post leading to a second overtime.
Although the Maroon and Gray defense came up with another block on the Regals' first shot, CLU converted the game-winner in the 107th minute on a scrum in the front of the net, handing Redlands a tough, 1-2 loss.
Redlands (5-5-3, 2-3-3 SCIAC) remains at home to face Occidental College on Saturday, October 19, at 11 a.m. for Breast Cancer Awareness Day.