Huskies Score In Final Minutes To Win 2-1

Sunday, August 28

Seattle, Wash.

3:00 PM

University of Washington

2-1

Santa Clara

2-2

Santa Clara

Washington WSOC

August 28, 2016 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Final Box Score Highlights

SEATTLE – The Washington women's soccer team played their home opener today at Husky Soccer Stadium, defeating Santa Clara 2-1 in a great comeback in front of a packed house of over 1,000 fans.

"It's a great win for our team against a very well organized, well coached and skillful team in Santa Clara," said head coach Lesle Gallimore.

The beginning of the game saw each team fighting for possession in midfield, with Santa Clara producing a majority of the attacks. The Husky defense was able to stand their ground until 18 minutes in when Jordan Jesolva scored on a shot that snuck into the back of the net. Washington was able to counter with a few shots of their own, as chances by Shannon Simon, Rachel Wheeler and Kimberly Keever were either blocked or just missed the post. The first half ended with Santa Clara holding the 1-0 lead.

"The first half was a great performance by them," said Gallimore. "I thought we were lucky to get out of the half with only one goal against to be honest, with how much they created."

As the whistle blew for the start of the second half, the Dawgs came out in attack mode searching for an equalizer. A shot by Simon two minutes in deflected off the post, as a try by Becca Schaoles a minute later was saved by the keeper. But Schoales didn't miss on her next opportunity, as Amanda Johnston sent a cross in from the right side, the redshirt junior connected with a great header that deflected off a Santa Clara defender and bounced into the net.

"We adjusted a little bit at halftime with our formation to press against their backs a little bit more and press the issue of trying to get the equalizer and it worked," said Gallimore. "Once we did that I fee like we played a lot better."

With the game back to a draw, the Huskies kept the gas pedal down as Miranda Rawlings took a shot that sailed just over the crossbar, and Schaoles shot another that sailed just wide. Both teams fought for offensive opportunities for the remainder of an intense second half, evident by the 13 fouls called in the second period.

"There were a lot of ebbs and flows and Sarah Shimer came up big a couple of times for us," said Gallimore. "All in all we stuck to the game plan and committed to trying to get the game winner."

As the match neared the end of regulation defender Dominique Bond-Flasza, Thursday's hero in a 1-0 win over Tennessee, ran up the right side of the field in front of the Husky bench looking to send a pass into the box. On a great ball that rolled its way in front of the net, sophomore midfielder Pascale Dumesnil slid around a Santa Clara defender pushing the ball just past the keeper to give the Dawgs a 2-1 lead with under three minutes remaining. The Huskies were able to hold the lead as the clock hit zeros, moving their record in the young season to 2-1.

"I couldn't be happier for our team," said Gallimore. "I thought they really upped their game in the second half and that was a big home win for us."

Washington now looks forward to next weekend and the Husky Nike Invitational as they open up with Cal Poly at home on Friday September 2nd at 7 p.m. They will play their second match of the tournament on the road however, at Seattle University on Monday the 5th with a 7 p.m. start time.