Geoducks and Boxers Fight to a Stalemate
The Evergreen State College and Pacific University battled each other and the heat for 110 minutes before Friday's non-conference women's soccer match ended in a 1-1 double-overtime tie at Geoduck Pitch.
The match was the season opener for both the Geoducks and the Boxers.
Pacific got the first good chance just 2:30 into the match when Kira Negrete got in behind the Evergreen defense, only to see Geoducks goalkeeper Rachel McClure race off her line and slide in to block the shot.
Within minutes the Geoducks got on the front foot and nearly scored in the 11th minute, but Maddie Lockwood's shot hit off the right post and rebounded out of danger. Evergreen, which enjoyed a 9-3 shot advantage in the opening half, finally got on the board 38:34 into the contest on a weaving solo run by Delaney Rice. The sophomore midfielder dribbled around two defenders before slotting her shot past Pacific goalkeeper Saya Brown and into the far left-side netting.
The Geoducks came close to adding to their lead in the 52nd minute, but Brook Swensen's 30-yard drive was tipped off the crossbar by Pacific keeper Saya Brown.
Pacific's tying goal actually came on a 40-yard cross into the box by right back defender Brooklynn Smith at the 65:34 mark. Smith's long ball landed in the penalty box and bounced high over the head of McClure and into the goal.
Each team had one really good chance to end the game in overtime. Just three minutes into the first extra 10-minute session, Brown dove to her right to parry away a wicked 35-yard free kick by Evergreen junior forward Hunter Thomson Terrel. Then, with about one minute left in the second overtime, senior midfielder Haleigh Ryneski sprinted back to take the ball off the foot of Pacific's Emily Thompson as the latter prepared to shoot one-v-one against McClure.
Evergreen finished with a 15-9 advantage in shots, putting six on frame compared to Pacific's four. McClure finished with three saves and Brown ended up with five. Corner kicks favored Pacific, 3-2.
The Geoducks return to action at noon tomorrow when they host the Linfield Wildcats at Geoduck Pitch.