IRVINE, Calif. — Eagles women's soccer (5-6-2, 3-3-1) returned to Eagles Field on Monday afternoon to take on PacWest competition Academy of Art (7-7-1, 1-6-1 PWC). In a battle through double overtime, the teams finished in a 1-1 draw. Carmany Jones netted the goal for the Eagles in the first half.
Concordia outshot Academy of Art, 32 to 13 in todays match and earned four corner kicks to ARTU's zero.
Off to a slower start, the PacWest teams dueled in the center of the field. Neither team could seem to break through the others backline with shots only being taken from outside the 18-yard-box.
In a play that skipped the Eagles midfield, Cienah Reed had the ball at her feet facing forward. She poked a pass down the left flank for Jones to run onto. Jones beat her defender, got the ball on her right foot and smashed a shot from the top of the 18-yard-box for a goal. Concordia took a 1-0 lead.
Speed of play increased as the teams continued their back and forth through the rest of the first half. Concordia's possession of the ball became more common and passes connected more easily until halftime.
The Urban Knights brought the pressure straight after halftime, making runs at the Eagles defense and getting a few crosses off. With all the pressure in the box, an Eagles defensive foul earned an Urban Knight penalty kick. ArtU's Mata took the kick from the penalty spot and sent it into the right side netting to tie the game 1-1.
The nature of the game grew more intense as the minutes ticked by and the Eagles created opportunity after opportunity in their offensive third. In the 97th minute, goalkeeper Kaelyn Whitcomb made a huge double-grab save to keep the game tied at 1 and headed to a second overtime.
Eagles rallied six shots in the second overtime, but fell short of the golden goal needed for the victory.
In just two days, Concordia women's soccer will continue conference play at home against Azusa Pacific. The Eagles were victorious in their non-conference tilt with Azusa Pacific on September 29, winning 2-1 in double overtime. This time for the conference points, the action is scheduled for October 24 at 3:30 pm.
