Oxy Women's Soccer Loses First-Place 2OT Thriller
THOUSAND OAKS — It was a first-place showdown that's going to leave a bitter taste.
Freshman Julie Khil came up with another clutch goal and the Occidental College women's soccer team looked defending SCIAC champion Cal Lutheran (6-2, 3-0 SCIAC) in the eye for 105 minutes on Wednesday.
But in the second overtime period, Elissa Minamishin took a hard shoulder that knocked her to the ground just outside of Oxy's box, no whistle sounded and Cal Lu's Bianca Deardorff found Kristina Hulse immediately after for the golden goal to beat the Tigers 2-1 in double overtime.
Minamishin had possession of the ball and looked like she'd be able to clear it easily if not for the bump.
Khil's heroics came in the 89th minute when she scored her third goal of the season to even the game at 1-1 and send it into overtime. Earlier this year, the freshman scored a game-winner in double overtime to beat Pacific Lutheran.
The Tigers (3-2-1, 2-1 SCIAC) were just minutes away from staying in first place. Instead, the loss lumps them into a three-way tie for second with Pomona-Pitzer and Chapman.
Hulse is now tied with Minamishin for the SCIAC lead in goals with three.
Oxy had a great opportunity in the 86th minute on a corner kick. Minamishin hit a left-footed pass toMichaela Tsuha at the back post, Cal Lu goalie Kristin Bailey got caught toward the near post, but Tusha's line-drive shot was blocked by a defender at the goal line.
After a scoreless first half, Nicole Campbell found Deardorff in the 53rd minute for the game's first goal.
Oxy returns home to face La Verne (4-4-1, 1-1-1 SCIAC) on Saturday at Jack Kemp Stadium at 7 p.m.
