SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team fell unlucky in a 2-1 loss to UC Santa Cruz in a non-conference game Saturday afternoon.
Redlands was looking to extend their winning streak to three games, but now drop to 5-6, 5-2 SCIAC.
The Bulldogs scored first thanks to Peyton Fendrich's (Clackamas, OR) goal in the 14th minute, but the Banana Slugs would go on to score twice in the second half, which included the game-winner on a set piece coming with :09 seconds remaining.
In the first half, Redlands and UCSC combined for three early shots, none requiring a save, before Fendrich put her shot on-goal finding the lower left corner for the opening goal and her third of the season. Sabrina Semmere (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) found Fendrich for her first collegiate assist.
For the remaining 31:00 minutes in the first half, the Banana Slugs had six shots with two forcing saves from Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA), but Stewart and the Bulldogs defensive unit held strong taking the 1-0 lead into the break.
Out of the half withint he first three minutes the Bulldogs' Celine Akroush (Pasadena, CA) and Taylor Pisan (Redmond, WA) each got looks but were unable to test the Banana Slug keeper.
The Bulldogs continued to push with another shot from Akroush, this time she found the target, but it was saved in the 53rd minute.
The action would slow down until the Banana Slugs would find the equalizer in the 73rd minute. Much like the goal Redlands scored, the Bulldogs faced a barrage of shots from the Banana Slugs, with UCSC getting four shots off over eleven minutes. All four of the shots missed the target as the Bulldogs did a good job of not allowing easy looks.
In the final minute of the half, Natalie Turiace (San Dimas, CA) had her shot fly over the bar in what was the first shot for Redlands since the 67th minute when Tori Zielinski's (Sunnyvale, CA) look missed wide right.
Thirty-five seconds later the Bulldogs conceded a free kick following a yellow card, which was issued to Kailey Hall (Tacoma, WA) with only :13 seconds left. The Banana Slugs took advantage of their final opportunity as they scored the game-winner off a set piece with only nine seconds remaining.
The Bulldogs gave up 17 shots to the Banana Slugs, but for the most part they were not dangerous looks as only five-reached target. Redlands had 10 shots with two on goal and each team finished with four corner kicks.
Turiace had three shots and one on-goal, Akroush had two shots, and a total of five other players took one shot, including Fendrich who converted on her lone attempt, thanks to the Semmere assist. In goal Stewart played the full 90 with three saves.
The Bulldogs return to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play this Wednesday, October 12 when they host Chapman University beginning at 7:00pm.