Soccer’s comeback falls short

USD women’s soccer rallies twice in second half, but loses in overtime to Gonzaga University

Eric Boose/Contributor/The USD Vista

The Torero women’s soccer team came back from a one-goal deficit twice in the second half, but fell 3-2 in overtime against the Gonzaga University Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon. Gonzaga defender Jodi Ulkekul scored her second goal of the game in the 103rd minute to win the game for the Bulldogs, handing the Toreros their second straight West Coast Conference loss this season. 

Three minutes into the second period of overtime, Gonzaga forward Alaysia Lane darted past her defender and fired a shot across the face of goal. Lane’s shot deflected off of a USD defender and fell in front of Ulkekul, who tapped the ball into the corner of the goal. 

The Toreros began the game with the better scoring chances of the two teams, but were unable to capitalize. Defender Emma Barrow had a fantastic chance from a corner kick in the ninth minute, as her header forced Gonzaga goalkeeper Isabel Jones to make a diving save. Barrow’s chance was the best either team had in the first 15 minutes, with neither side able to make a clear scoring chance from open play.

Even Gonzaga’s opening goal came from a set piece. Twenty minutes into the match, the Bulldogs earned a free kick in the middle of the field 25 yards from goal. Ulkekul, Gonzaga’s captain, blasted the ball through USD’s defensive wall and a deflection took the shot past Torero goalkeeper Amber Michel. 

With a 1-0 lead, the Bulldogs seemed to be more in control of the game as the first half progressed. Michel was called into action two more times in the first half, first catching a shot from distance by Lane, then punching a loose ball away from the goal. USD could not create a good scoring chance after Gonzaga’s opener thanks to Bulldog defender Ariana Pumpelly stopping multiple breakaways.

Down but not out at halftime, head coach Louise Lieberman told her team to focus on what went well in the first half.

“Just to go back to what we do well and stick to the plan instead of changing things that aren’t working,” Lieberman said. “Just really ask them to focus on the things that we ask them to do so that we can continue to execute on the things that are working for us that worked against our opponent on both sides of the ball.”

As the second half began, it looked as though Lieberman’s halftime plan had worked. USD forwards Milan Moses and Summer Mason tormented Gonzaga defenders with their speed and dribbling abilities, creating multiple scoring chances for the Toreros. USD just barely missed a perfect chance in the 55th minute, as midfielder Sami Fairweather hit the post from six yards away.

The Toreros finally found the back of the net an hour into the match, as Moses held off one defender, dribbled past two more, and put the ball into the top corner of the net to score her 11th goal of the season.

However, USD was unable to maintain the momentum that led to the goal, as less than a minute after Moses scored, a long-range shot from Gonzaga hit the crossbar. The visitors regained their momentum, and eventually re-took the lead with 15 minutes remaining. The Toreros cleared a Gonzaga corner kick, only to see the ball land in front of Bulldog defender McKenna Ferrera, whose shot through traffic found the back of the net.

Almost exactly as it happened after the Toreros’ goal, the Bulldogs lost their momentum after scoring. Four minutes after Gonzaga’s second goal, USD was back on level terms. Moses created yet another scoring chance with her shot ricocheting off the goalpost. Thankfully for the Toreros, forward Katie Lapomarda was on the spot to put the rebound into the back of the net. 

This time, USD kept the momentum in their favor and had multiple chances to score a third goal. Moses and Mason continued to beat Gonzaga defenders, but the Toreros did not manage to get a shot on goal. 

Moving into the rest of the season, Lieberman hopes to capitalize on Moses and Mason’s attacking talent by getting more players involved around the penalty area.

“To get more people scoring would mean allowing us to transition together as a unit, and sometimes Milan and Summer go really fast so it’s not easy to catch up to them,” Lieberman said. “We’re working on having people trailing in behind so we can keep possession of the ball in the final third instead of just a one-and-done type of thing.”

Gonzaga had the best chance to score in the first 10 minutes of overtime, Michel making a solid save diving low to her left to deny Bulldog forward Samantha Heilman. As the second 10-minute overtime began, Gonzaga was dominant. Before assisting the winning goal, Lane forced Michel to make another diving stop. Gonzaga scored the winner on their next attack.

Despite the loss, Lieberman was proud of her team’s persistence. 

“There are so many moments in the game I’m proud of the girls and the way they step up and answer back, and continue to work hard,” Lieberman said. “Then there’s moments where we lapse and unfortunately get scored on or lose the ball when we shouldn’t. It’s difficult, that’s always difficult, so what we try and do is learn from it and get better and get ready for the next match.”

As far as preparing for the next match is concerned, Lieberman hopes to keep the team thinking positively.

“I’m a super positive person and try to keep it going in that direction because I don’t believe there’s any other way to go or else it really goes downhill,” Lieberman said. “So keep believing, keep helping them believe, keep giving them confidence, helping them see the light and knowing that there is always good things that can happen ahead.” 

USD’s next home match is on Oct. 6 against  West Coast Conference opponent Brigham Young University. at 7 p.m. at Torero Stadium.