LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's soccer team hit the road to face familiar foe Occidental College in non-conference action on Wednesday night, but couldn't come away with the road victory, as they fell on a golden goal during the second overtime period.
The Bulldogs (1-2) proved to be a tough test on the road for the Tigers. Despite opportunities, they just couldn't capitalize, as they would fall on a free kick in the 104th minute of extra time.
Four minutes into the final OT session Oxy earned a free kick just outside the box. The ensuing kick came from Clara Madden on frame, which was deflected by Redlands keeper Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA). But the rebound would go right to a waiting Grace Hildner who finished for the game-winner.
Senior Eva Vlassopoulos (Portland, OR) got the offense going for the Bulldogs early in the game with a shot that missed wide. Then right before the half Nolan Mendonca (San Diego, CA) and Peyton Fendrich (Clackamas, OR) would go back to back with connections forcing Tiger keeper Ingrid Odmark into a pair of save opportunities.
Out of the break, Oxy pushed the tempo taking ten shots with five being on goal. But Stewart turned them all away, keeping the game scoreless heading into overtime. Oxy thought it had the game-winner in the 79th minute after they earned a free kick when Stewart picked a ball up outside the box. But the ensuing goal would be reversed since it was not a direct kick.
It was a story of two halves, as UR held the advantage, 4-3, on shots in the first half. But the rest of the game, it was all Oxy who turned the table by outshooting the Bulldogs, 13-2.
Between the posts, Stewart totaled nine saves against 10 shots, while playing all 104:29. Vlassopoulos added two shots and was joined by Fendrich, Malia Kuhl (Sammamish, WA), Mendonca, and Charlie Baum (Hesperia, CA).
Redlands has this weekend off from competition but will return next Wednesday, September 15, when they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 7:00 p.m.