PORTLAND, Ore.—In a matchup of the final two teams unbeaten in Northwest Conference play, Lewis & Clark College women's soccer earned a hard-fought 1-1 tie against the University of Puget Sound on Sunday afternoon at Griswold Stadium.Â
Â
THE BASICS
Lewis & Clark 1, Puget Sound 1Â
(Lewis & Clark 3-3-1, NWC 2-0-1)
(Puget Sound 5-2-1, NWC 3-0-1)Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Â
Freshman
Grace Smith scored her first collegiate goal to give the Pioneers the lead in the 6
th minute but Puget Sound answered just before the hour-mark. Each team would have chances to stay perfect in conference late in the game, but in the end the two teams settled for a point apiece.Â
Â
Smith opened the scoring at 5:18 with the Pioneers first shot of the contest. Senior
Macy O'Hara sent a cross to the top of the 18-yard box that was slowed by a defender but made it's way to Smith. The freshman rifled a right-footed shot just under the keeper for a 1-0 advantage.Â
Â
Puget Sound would threaten to score multiple times during the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net. Senior Ava Cholakian had one of the best chances when the forward rose up and headed a corner kick just over the bar. O'Hara added a goal line clearance for the Pioneers on a shot that was destined to go just inside the post off a corner kick.Â
Â
The visitors evened the score in the 60
th minute. Kya Scott sent a high arching ball into the box that
Sophia Young managed to paw away and the ball fell into a scrum in the 6-yard box. After multiple players attempted to get a foot on it, Amelia Guasco managed to tap it over the line for a 1-1 tie.Â
Â
O'Hara nearly answered right back for the Pioneers. After the Loggers cleared a free kick out of their own box, O'Hara picked up the loose ball just outside the box, turned and lifted a shot that dipped just over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.Â
Â
Sophomore
Megan Yanagi added a pair of great chances five minutes later. Yanagi headed a pair of crosses on target - with her second look providing enough power to give the Loggers goalie some trouble.Â
Â
In the 68
th minute, Scott nearly made it 2-1 the other way. The Puget Sound player sent a hard, low shot just past Young that bounced square off the post and back out.Â
Â
The Loggers would keep the pressure up over the final 20+ minutes, but Young made two more saves to keep Puget Sound at bay.Â
Â
The Pioneers back line of
Abby Hayes,
Kate Meinhard and
Abby Morrow had another terrific game in slowing down one of the top offenses in the NWC. Hayes had an especially strong outing, as she came through with a number of important interventions while serving as the final defender back.Â
Â
BY THE NUMBERS
- Puget Sound ended the game with a 17-5 edge and a 5-3 lead on shots on goal. The Loggers posted just one shot on goal in the first half.Â
- Smith is the eighth player to score a goal for the Pioneers this fall. She is the fifth player to score their first collegiate goal.Â
- O'Hara's assist was the first point of her collegiate career.Â
- Sunday's tie was the first-ever tie between the Pioneers and Loggers in 32 meetings. Â
WHO'S NEXTÂ
Â
Lewis & Clark continues their five-game home stand on Wednesday night, when they host George Fox University at 5 p.m.Â