Sophomore Genessa Neeser notched her second game-winning goal in the last two games today, as Corban defeated the Hawks of Holy Names in double overtime.
Double Overtime Thriller Goes to Corban Over Holy Names
BOX SCORE
ASHLAND, Ore. – Sophomore Genessa Neeser (Pocatello, Idaho) scored the game-winning goal in the 116th minute, as Corban's women's soccer team defeated the Hawks of Holy Names, 4-3, in double overtime Saturday afternoon on the campus of Southern Oregon University.
Playing a neutral site game for the first time since the 2005 regional tournament, Corban battled Holy Names for the opening 22-plus minutes before the Hawks netted the game's first goal.
HNU's Maria Gonzalez took a pass from Jessica Gottschalk and went one-on-one with the Warriors' net-minder before dropping a shot off into the left side of the goal from eight yards out.
Less than 14 minutes later, freshman Brittany Bowman (Shelton, Wash.) notched her team-leading fifth goal of the season off an assist from fellow freshman Amanda Mendenhall (Windsor, Calif.). Bowman's game-tying tally came from five yards out, as the fleet-footed freshman sent the game in the half knotted at 1-all.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Gonzalez struck again off an assist from HNU's goalkeeper Danielle Miller. On this occasion, Gonzalez's shot from ten yards out went through Corban's keeper's hands and into the back of the net therefore handing the Hawks a 2-1 advantage in the 47th minute.
Eleven minutes later, Mendenhall re-tied the game via her third goal of the season off an assist by junior Kacie Emerick (Bellingham, Wash.). Mendenhall's tally came from ten yards out, as she was looking straight at the goal.
In the 81st minute, Neeser notched her first of two goals on the afternoon via a mad scramble in front of the net that she directed into the back of the goal from nine yards out. Neeser's goal gave her two in the Warriors' last 170 minutes of soccer action.
Less than 30 seconds later, Holy Names knotted the game at 3-all via a trio of passes off the restart. HNU's Monique Reyes took a pass from Gonzalez that she shot from ten yards out into the back of the Warriors' net for the game-tying tally to force extra time.
In the first overtime period, both teams combined to register four shots (3 for Corban & 1 for Holy Names) with all four on frame.
Just over five minutes into the second extra period, Neeser netted the game-winner off an assist by Bowman to extend Corban's winning streak to three games. Neeser's shot came from the right flank from just over eight yards out, as the second-year defender has now scored three goals in the Warriors' last two games that includes a pair of game-winners.
Corban senior keeper Karyn Allen (Merlin, Ore.) stood between the pipes for the Warriors for the entire 115-plus minutes and tallied a game-high 10 saves on 23 HNU shots. Meanwhile, Holy Names' Miller registered a team-best eight saves for the Hawks to go along with her lone assist in the opening minutes of the second half.
With the win, Corban evens its overall record at 4-4-0, while Holy Names falls to 1-4-0. The Warriors will be back in action on Thursday, September 25th, when they host the NAIA's No. 5-ranked Cavaliers of Concordia beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Warrior Field.