Gamache Records Hat Trick as Rocky Rallies by Southern Oregon
BILLINGS, Mont – The Rocky Mountain College women’s soccer team opened Cascade Collegiate Conference play with a 4-3 win over Southern Oregon in double overtime on Friday afternoon at Herb Klindt Field.
Rocky Mountain (5-1, 1-0 CCC) trailed 3-1 in the 66th minute when Southern Oregon (3-4, 0-1 CCC) got a second consecutive goal from Kelsey Randall.
Lauryn Gamache took over for the Battlin’ Bears from that point. The sophomore got one back in the 70th minute on a strike from just outside the penalty area. Gamache then tallied the equalizer in the 83rd minute when she created space from the defender and scored to the far post.
The game would head to overtime with SOU getting the best chance in the first OT period, but the Raiders’ shot was stopped by Maia Wetzel. Gamache completed the hat trick in the 106th minute after carrying the ball past two defenders for a left-footed shot from 25 yards for the win.
Gamache’s winner was her eighth goal of the season and it was the first hat trick by a Rocky player since September 29, 2012. She also had an assist on the goal scored by Alyssa Schneider in the 18th minute.
Rocky took 18 shots in the game with 10 of them on goal. They had a 7-2 advantage in the second half to get the game to overtime. SOU attempted 11 shots, but only had four after halftime.
Gamache led the Battlin’ Bears with eight shot attempts and six shots on goal. Amber Pearson took four shots.
Wetzel earned her fourth win of the season in goal with six saves.
Rocky’s weekend at home continues on Sunday with a contest against Oregon Tech. The game has been moved to Herb Klindt Field with an opening touch slated for noon.