Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Trailing by one late in the second half, the Whittier College women's soccer team added the equalizer with nine minutes to play en route to playing to a draw with George Fox University Friday afternoon.
This was the first overtime game of the season for the Purple & Gold as they move to 1-2-1 on the young season.
From start to finish Whittier controlled every facet of the game in shots (24-7), corner kicks (5-1), and shots on goal (8-3) but still found themselves trailing in the 59th minute.
Kenna Meinhart added the first tally of the contest and the first for the Bruins this season when she slipped past the Poet back line to net the go ahead goal at the 59:14 mark.
The Poets wouldn't go away however as they would continue pressuring adding the game tying goal at the 79:08 mark from freshman Lauren Kai (Torrance, Calif.). After a cross was sent into the box, Kai found herself at the right spot at the right time to tap in her third goal of the season.
With just under a minute to play, Whittier had a great look for the game winner coming on a corner kick from Leah Kolek (Diamond Bar, Calif.), but Kai pulled her head down on the far post missing the connection in the box keeping the game all knotted up at one.
In overtime, the game slowed down as Whittier would take three shots with all three being on goal compared to George Fox's one but none found the back of the net keeping the game tied up as time expired.
Kai, Kaela Reisfelt (Castaic, Calif.), and Madison Shipherd (Whittier, Calif.), each had seven shots apiece, while Alexi Cruz picked up two saves between the posts.
Whittier returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, September 14 as they host Lewis & Clark in their final non-conference game beginning at 11:00am.
