Senior forward Kaily Benenati (Denver, CO) was at the right place at the right time as she blasted the game-winning goal for the University of Redlands women's soccer team during Friday night's 2-1 overtime victory against the visiting Bearcats of Willamette University (OR). Fellow senior forward Jaimie Morton (Boise, ID) registered her first point of the season by setting up Benenati for the crowd-pleasing score.
Watch video of the game-winning goal
After trailing in the first half, the Bulldogs rallied to tie it up and eventually clinch the victory while earning the squad's second win of the season.
Willamette struck first as the Bearcats found the back of the net in the 17th minute. Senior midfielder Stephanie Skelly (Paulsboro, WA) collected the goal off of junior midfielder Ariel Wilson's (Fort Collins, CO) assist.
During the second half, the Bulldogs attacked early and often, posting eight shots in the first 13 minutes with junior midfielder Kendall Pegan's (Lafayette, CA) goal highlighting the barrage. She celebrated her birthday in grand fashion when she evened up the game with a ripper from the right side of the box at the 57:48-mark.
Sophomore Sabrina Grandke-Bawab (Kirkland, WA) picked up her first career U of R victory, stopping three shots in the final 47:57 minutes. Junior Linzey Smith (Anaheim Hills, CA) earned the start and recorded four saves during the first half.
Despite a slow start, Redlands found its stroke by tallying 19 shots, including 13 on goal, in the second frame. Overall, the Bulldogs dominated the offensive third with 33 attempts, compared to the Bearcats' 14.
Redlands (2-0-1) looks forward to kicking off Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition on Wed., Sept. 14, when it travels to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges for a 4 p.m. showdown against the Sagehens.