Golden Finish Over AAC Foe Houston

Friday, August 31

Riverside, Calif.

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

3-1-0

University of Houston

2-3-0

OT 2

Houston

California Baptist

Photo by: Dwain Linden

Golden Finish Over AAC Foe Houston

8/31/2018 6:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — After a late goal forced overtime, California Baptist University kept its composure and grabbed the golden goal to beat the University of Houston 2-1 Friday afternoon.

The Lancers improve to 3-1-0 on the year, while the Cougars drop to 2-3-0.

"Houston is a very good team in a top soccer conference, so to get the win today was huge," said Coach Kristen St. Clair. "We created many dangerous scoring opportunities and finished two very good, composed goals by Jordan Dow and Miranda Hald. Defensively, I thought we were much better and more consistent today. Romy Salvador came up with some big saves when we needed her to."

CBU came out looking to set the tone early and created some chances, but didn't find the back of the net until the 24^th minute. Desarae Felix put a weighted ball in behind the Houston defense, allowing Jordan Dow to one-touch it past the goalkeeper.

"I saw Des wind up to send the ball over the top, so I started my run and cut back," said Dow on the goal. "The ball bounced right in front of me with no defenders around. I saw the keeper come out and locked it on the ground right through her legs. It felt amazing. Overall, the team played so great together, we grinded it out and showed heart out there and that's why we came out with the win."

It gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead at halftime, but they came out hungry for more. Twenty minutes into the frame, Valerie Cortez fired off a rocket from distance, but a Cougar stepped in front to keep the score tight.

The Cougars had a chance in the 76^th minute, but Romy Salvador came up big to make the save to keep her team in front.

With just 33 seconds on the clock, Houston snuck in a goal to force extra time, tying the game 1-1.

Houston came out with some new confidence and got a shot on goal off just 35 seconds into the extra period, but Salvador made the save once again.

One minute later, Erin Gallagher gave CBU a chance on goal, but the Cougar goalkeeper managed to push it wide.

The Cougars cleared away the ensuing corner kick, but the Lancers won back the ball and went back on the attack. Rebecca Romero dribbled down the field and laid off a ball for Miranda Hald to run onto. The Houston goalkeeper came off her line, but Hald tucked it away on her first touch to give CBU the 2-1 victory.

"While it's disappointing to give up a goal in the last 30 seconds of the game, that's a good learning opportunity for us and I was impressed with how the team responded," said St. Clair. "We rolled up our sleeves and got back to work, putting Houston under lots of pressure which resulted in the game-winning goal. We had an industrious week of training and it was nice to see the players rewarded for their hard work and applying what we've been working on in training to the game. As a team, we talk a lot about consistency of performance and I believe we took an important and positive step forward with that today."

CBU heads out to Mississippi for a pair of games next week, taking on Jackson State on Thursday, September 6, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Two days later, the Lancers are at Mississippi Valley State for a 5:00 p.m. Pacific kickoff.