Pandoliano sinks golden goal as Raiders knock off Owls, 2-1
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – With one more chance to deliver late-game dramatics at Raider Stadium, Southern Oregon freshman Kiani Pandoliano rose to the occasion Saturday night for a critical 2-1 overtime win against Oregon Tech.
Pandoliano went off the bounce in the 93rd minute and lined up a shot right-of-center from 23 yards deep, placing it just under the crossbar and over keeper Jenna Stiehr's outstretched arms for a golden goal that kept the Raiders (9-2-3, 7-1-2 Cascade Conference) in the CCC title hunt.
With one week left in the regular season, they passed up the Owls (10-3-2, 7-2-1) by one point in the standings and moved into a tie with second-place Carroll. Eastern Oregon (12-1-2, 8-1-2) has a three-point lead in first place but just one game to go. The Raiders will wrap up at Providence (Mont.) and Carroll next Friday and Sunday.
OIT was riding a six-game winning streak and appeared in control after Haley Janky assisted Cassidy Gosvener's sixth goal of the season in the 30th minute.
After getting out-shot 5-2 in the first half, the Raiders became the aggressors. In the 55th minute, Misty Martinez set up Mia Volpatti for a 20-yard strike that she directed into the upper-left corner for an equalizer.
Volpatti's goal was her fifth of the season. Pandoliano, who also scored a pair in SOU's last outing, a 5-0 win over Evergreen, is up to six goals and three game-winners.
The Owls didn't put a shot on goal over the final 43 minutes. SOU had another good chance a minute into the extra session when Macaylea Mitchell centered a pass just in front of the Stiehr, but the ball jumped off Simone Schroder's foot and over the post.
Clutch goals became a theme as the Raiders finished their home schedule at 6-0-2. In their 1-0 win over Corban on Sept. 30, Martinez scored the lone goal in the 80th minute. And in a 1-1 tie against Northwest (Wash.) on Oct. 12, Martinez stuck the equalizer in the 89th.
SOU's seven-game unbeaten streak is tied for the longest in team history.