By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
The woman’s soccer team wrapped up their season with a 2-1 overtime victory on the road against Simon Fraser University (SFU) on Saturday Oct. 31.
The Wolves spoiled SFU’s post-season aspirations, which with a victory the Clan would have finished in fourth place in the conference ensuring a berth in the GNAC Woman’s Soccer Championship.
SFU came out determined in the first half, and put pressure on Western’s defense. The Wolves survived a barrage of 14 first half shots. Despite SFU’s offensive flurry, the match was scoreless going into half time.
In the 54th minute, WOU senior Brooke Steinberg (D) scored her first goal of the season with a free kick to the near post.
Western would only have the lead for 34 seconds, though, as the Clan would equalize the score at 1-1 after a loose ball found its way into the back of the net.
After 90 minutes and the score still even, the match would continue into overtime. The Wolves had a chance to win just two minutes into overtime when senior Vicky Cruz Rosales (M) took a shot that went just over the top of the crossbar.
Still scoreless after the first overtime period, the match would continue to a second. In the 107th minute, the Wolves were rewarded a penalty kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Junior Taylor Higa (F/M) stepped up to take the penalty kick and sent it past SFU’s goalkeeper. Higa’s game winning goal was her second of the season.
Rosales and junior Dani Payne (M) led the Wolves with three shots on goal. SFU outshot WOU 25-19.
With the victory, the Wolves concluded their season with an overall record of 8-8-1 and 4-7-1 in GNAC play and finished in 7th place in the conference.
