Randi Donahue scored the golden goal for Corban in a dramatic 2-1 win at Linfield on Sunday night. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Senior forward Randi Donahue scored midway through the second overtime period on Sunday evening, lifting the Corban University women's soccer team to a 2-1 golden goal victory over Linfield College. For the Warriors, it was their first overtime match of the 2016 campaign, and also the final non-conference contest leading up to Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) action.
"We kept to our game plan and dominated most of the game," said Corban head coach Likius Hafeni. "We had to be patient and wait for a goal. It was a good game before we start with our conference games."
The Warriors originally took the lead in the 27th minute of play when junior forward Ali Oatridge stole the ball from a Wildcat defender and fired her shot past the goalkeeper to put the Warriors up 1-0. Linfield responded right away, however, as in the 29th minute, Dani Nurmi scored for to tie the contest at 1-1.
In the second stanza, Corban outshot Linfield, 14-6, but the Warriors were unable to find the back of the net, setting up the dramatic overtime periods.
In the first overtime, Corban thought it had won the contest when a shot rattled off the cross bar and down to the ground, looking as if it had crossed the line. The ball was deemed to not have crossed the line from the referee's point of view, however, and after the mad scramble in the box as the clock counted down, the Warriors were unable to put the ball in the net, sending the match to a second overtime.
In the second overtime period, Linfield seemed to be knocking on the door first, but Corban did well to clear a couple of dangerous balls in the box, and ultimately Corban turned the table and went on the attack.
In the fifth minute of that second overtime, Donahue received a pass from junior defender Marissa Telarroja and Donahue blasted a left-footed laser into the back of the net from 18 yards out, winning the match for the Warriors on the golden goal.
After the entire bench rushed the field and mobbed Donahue following the dramatic game-winner, the final stats were tallied, showing Corban with 25 shots to 14 for Linfield (0-4). Additionally, the Warriors registered nine corner-kicks to the Wildcats' three.
On top of the goal scorers, Corban (4-3) sophomore forward Lexi McQueary led the way offensively with six shots, while freshman forward Annouscka Kordom recorded three shots.
Corban (4-3) heads into CCC play now riding a two-game winning streak. The Warriors begin CCC action next Friday and Saturday when they host the University of Great Falls and Carroll College at 4 p.m. both days.