Box Score

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – An early lead turned into a halftime deficit, but Linnea Soo's tying goal in the 81st minute pulled Whitman College even with visiting Lewis & Clark College. The Missionaries and Pioneers, however, would have to settle for a 2-2 tie in Northwest Conference women's soccer action Sunday afternoon at the Whitman Athletic Complex.
Battling the heat and 20 minutes of extra time made for few scoring chances in the two 10-minute overtime periods but Whitman (4-2-1, 2-0-1 NWC) had both of the opportunities only to have L&C (4-1-2, 2-0-1) goalkeeper Geena Fong come up with stops to preserve the tie.

The Missionaries began the afternoon with a quick score from Jade Anderson on a corner kick chance early in the fifth minute. Emma Onstad-Hawes lofted in the corner chance, landing her kick near the center of the goal and six yards off the line where a glancing header off a Pioneer defender deflected the ball's flight just enough to find an unmarked Jade Anderson on the back post where she tapped in a shot for the early lead.

The Whitman advantage held up until late in the half when Lewis & Clark pulled even then went ahead with a pair of goals over a three-minute span. Coming out of a corner opportunity the Pioneers pushed the original pass back up the touch line where Kylie Carera served a pass into the box. Rochelle Jordan found the loose ball and hammered home her shot to even things at 1-1 at the 41:50 mark.

Lewis & Clark took the lead three minutes later when Taylor Hudson converted a penalty kick chance after a Whitman foul in the box, allowing the Pioneers to enter the halftime with a 2-1 lead.

Each team had opportunities to either stretch the lead or even the score during the second half as Whitman generated six shots to five from Lewis & Clark. Of those 11 shots, though, only three were on frame with Fong coming up with two saves and Whitman's Haley Case coming up with the lone shot on goal she faced.

With time winding down in regulation the Whitman midfield and back line were beginning to shy forward in search of the equalizer.

Clara Merlino's masterful possession through a pair of Pioneer defenders put her to the left of the goal and driving toward the post along the end line. Merlino saucered a soft pass across the goal mouth where a sliding Soo, one of the Missionaries' pressing defenders, contacted the ball behind a helpless Fong to knot things at 2-2 at the 80:12 mark.

Whitman had the better of play over the two extra periods, owning possession in its attacking third for much of the 20 minutes, even generating a solid scoring chance halfway through the first OT when Brianna Brown's shot from a yard outside the top of the box nearly skimmed the top of the crossbar over a leaping Fong.

Case finished the day with two saves for Whitman with Fong coming up with five for the Pioneers.

The Missionaries take to the road for their next contests, a pair of league games, heading to Pacific (Ore.) University for a Saturday, Sept. 27 outing followed by a trip to Linfield College on Sunday.