Women's Soccer Plays to 1-1 Draw With Pitt-Greensburg
Sept. 23 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany College women's soccer team overcame an early first-half deficit to earn a 1-1, double overtime draw with visiting Pitt-Greensburg on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bobcats found the net early in the opening frame as the visitors struck on just their second shot of the contest, giving Pitt-Greensburg the 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the frame.
From there, however, the Bethany defense would show its resolve, fending off eight more early shots, including four saves by sophomore keeper Taylor Sasak (Berea, Ohio/Berea), until the Green & White could generate some offense of their own.
Using their first corner kick of the afternoon with just over 19 minutes remaining in the first half, the Bison were able to convert on a scoring chance. After the ball was kicked around the box and deflected off the Bobcat net minder, junior Julie Slezak (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) found the back of the net for her third goal of the season, knotting the game at 1-1.
Following the Bison's score, the Green & White were able to weather four more shots from the Bobcats, including two more saves from Sasak, and the game went into the halftime break with the score tied at 1-1.
Despite being outshot 14-5 in the opening half, Sasak played very well, stopping six Pitt-Greensburg shots to keep the Bobcats at bay.
The first chance for either side to break the tie came in the 56th minute as junior Brittany Fullbright (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) was awarded a penalty kick. Having converted on her first two PKs this season, the odds were in Fullbright's favor, but the Pitt-Greensburg goaltender stopped the shot, keeping the match tied.
Neither team could break through the last line of defense in the second stanza, and the match headed into overtime. It marked the first overtime contest for the Green & White this year.
In both overtime periods, it was more of the same. The Bison became the aggressors, outshooting Pitt-Greensburg 6-4 in the two overtime stanzas. However, each goalie stopped a pair of shots in the extra time, and the game ended in a draw, 1-1.
For the Bison, Sasak continued her standard practice of performing well between the pipes. The sophomore keeper made it seven times in the team's first eight games with 10+ saves as she finished with 13 on 28 Bobcat shots.
Offensively, Slezak led the way with her third goal of the season, while placing two shots on net in the contest. Junior Marena Cline (Follansbee, W.Va./Brooke) also tallied a pair of shots on net, while four other players had one, each.
Bethany will be back in action on Tuesday, September 29, when they play host to Muskingum University. The matchup with the Muskies is slated for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff.
