Knights, Thunderbirds Play to 0-0 Draw
PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Warner Pacific women’s soccer team earned a 0-0 tie with the visiting Cascade Thunderbirds in double overtime Thursday night. The Knights go to 1-4-2 (0-0-1 Cascade Collegiate Conference) on the season while Cascade moves to 1-6-2 (0-1-1 CCC).
It was a defensive struggle throughout, with neither team able to generate many good scoring opportunities. After an uneventful first half, both teams had their chances in the second frame. Senior Kelsey Walton was responsible for most of them for the Knights, collecting a game-high four shots, including three on goal. Walton twice had opportunities late in the game, getting free for a header in the 75th and taking a shot off a corner kick in the 87th minute, but Cascade keeper Te Awhina Aranui was there to make the save both times. Warner Pacific’s best chance came with just under two minutes remaining in the game when Jessica Costella cracked a shot from 20 yards out that Aranui bobbled before finally securing it.
Cascade’s best chances came midway through the second period, when a free kick in the 65th minute went into a scrum of players in the box before Knights keeper Lacey Golden alertly smothered it and a minute later when Thunderbirds striker Katie Miller had took a shot that was saved by Golden only to deflect to Cascade teammate Karina Martinez, who launched a shot into the open net only to have Golden scramble back in time to make the save.
After ending regulation time locked at 0-0, defense continued to prevail as neither team was able to gain an advantage in overtime and the final whistle blew after 110 minutes of scoreless play.
For the game, Warner Pacific had 13 shots to seven for Cascade, while Aranui registered 10 saves and Golden had three with both keepers earning the shutout.
The Knights return to action on Saturday, September 27 when they face No. 4 Concordia at home at 1 p.m.