MONMOUTH, Ore. – Just when it seemed like an early goal for #14 Western Washington was going to hold up, the Western Oregon University women's soccer team delivered a clutch play in the final minute. After Jenna Efraimson drew a key foul just outside the box, Erika Gonzalez Moreno stepped in a delivered a perfect ball near the back post where Hannah Rispler was there for the header goal with just 35 seconds remaining to help the teams finish in a 1-1 tie in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Thursday at the WOU Soccer Field. It was also senior day for the two Wolves' seniors in Maddy Topaum and Hannah Cabral.
"It took a minute to find our rhythm tonight, but once we did we started to play some competitive soccer. It's hard to give up an own goal, but felt that we responded really well," head coach Kacey Bingham said. "The fact that we were able to find a goal in the last minute of regulation play speaks volumes about this team and their capabilities. We needed a point today and the team found a way to get it."
The playing conditions were challenging for both teams, with rain throughout the week and during the game, the teams adjusted to an ever-changing playing surface.
Western Washington (12-3-3, 9-3-1 GNAC) came out like the No. 14 team in the nation in the first half, holding an 11-3 shot advantage. Olivia Holdenried turned away several good chances before the Vikings were able to break through off a corner kick. In the 13th minute, Makenzie Burks sent the ball into the box and in an attempt to clear the ball, the Wolves knocked it into their net for an own goal and a 1-0 WWU lead.
WOU (5-9-3, 4-6-3 GNAC) came right back after the goal to get a shot on target by Haley King that was saved by Natalie Dierickx.
Holdenried came up with a few more saves the remainder of the first half to keep it a 1-0 game at halftime.
The Wolves had some strong early chances in the second half, with Efraimson firing a shot that was saved in the 47th minute and then a pair of shots by Piper Matson that were on goal and saved in the 51st and 56th minutes.
As the team traded chances, WOU pushed a few more shots on goal before eventually getting the equalizer. A shot by Lilly Nowatzke was saved in the 77th minute and then a shot by Matson from just outside the box was saved in the 81st minute.
Holdenried made a nice save in the 87th minute to help setup the late game heroics. After Erfaimson was able to draw the foul, Gonzalez Moreno then sent a perfect cross into the box for Rispler to tie the score in the 90th minute.
In the first overtime, Holdenried came up with two saves, while WOU had one chance by Briana Kubli that was blocked in the 92nd minute to send the game into another extra 10-minute session.
During the second overtime, WWU had one shot go wide and another one blocked, as those were the only two shots attempted in the second overtime before the teams finished in a draw.
For the match, the Vikings held a 24-12 advantage in shots and 10-8 on goal. WWU outshot WOU 11-3 in the first half, the teams were tied with eight shots apiece in the second half and the Vikings held a 5-1 edge on shots in overtime. WWU attempted 13 corner kicks to three for the Wolves. There were 28 fouls whistled in the game, with 17 called on WOU.
Individually, Matson led the Wolves with four shots, all on goal. Several players played all 110 minutes including Holdenried, Liz Parker, Rispler, Jada Foster and Gonzalez Moreno. Efraimson played 109 minutes and Matson played 102 minutes. Nowatzke came off the bench to play 91 minutes. Holdenried recorded nine saves in goal.
Jenna Killman led the Vikings with six shots, while Grace Eversaul added four. In goal, Dierickx started an played all 110 minutes coming away with seven saves.
It was an important tie and point for the Wolves in the GNAC standings. Simon Fraser lost 3-0 at Saint Martin's to keep SFU at 16 points and in the fourth and final GNAC Championships spot. Montana State Billings nearly rallied at Northwest Nazarene before falling short, 3-2, which keeps the Yellowjackets in sixth with 14 points. WOU now has 15 points and is just one point back of Simon Fraser. The final game of the regular season arrives on Saturday and the match between WOU and Simon Fraser will decide the fourth and final tournament spot. If WOU wins, they will get the fourth seed regardless of what Montana State Billings does and same for Simon Fraser. Now if WOU and SFU end in a tie and Montana State Billings wins at Central Washington, the Yellowjackets and Simon Fraser would then be tied for the fourth and final spot. The tiebreaker goes to SFU and they would clinch the final spot. WOU will have to win on Saturday at Simon Fraser to secure the final tournament spot.
WOU will now travel to Canada to face Simon Fraser on Saturday starting at 12 p.m.
