Simmons’ Header Lifts Spartans to 1-0 Double Overtime Victory
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Case Western Reserve University junior midfielder Kendra Simmons (Medina, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) headed in a cross from sophomore midfielder Rachel Bourque (Newton, N.H./Central Catholic) with 4:14 left in the second overtime period, lifting the Spartan women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory versus Grove City College (Pa.) during the first day of the Case/JCU Classic at Case Field.
With the win, the Spartans improve to 2-0-1 overall and are right back in action on Saturday during day two of the Classic versus Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Olivet College (Mich.) at 2:00 p.m.
Grove City suffers its first setback of the season, falling to 2-1 overall.
The Spartans controlled the action for most of the first half, but neither side was able to generate a score.
In the second period, Case turned up the offensive pressure and had chances to move ahead on several occasions, hitting both the left and right posts, but the Spartans were unable to find the back of the Wolverine net.
Grove City produced its best threat of the game with just under three minutes elapsed in the first overtime, but a shot from Sarah Cessar hit the crossbar just above Spartan senior goalkeeper Anna Kennedy (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) and bounced back into the field of play.
In goal, Kennedy collected her third shutout in as many games with two saves. Grove City's Tiffany Yost recorded two saves in the first half, while Kristi Lathrop played the final 60:46 with six saves and suffered the loss.
For the game, Case owned a 22-6 advantage in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
