CALIFORNIA (Aug. 30) – Sophomore
Zana Ross (Seville, Ohio/Cloverleaf) scored the 'golden goal' in double overtime on Thursday night, as the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team claimed a 1-0 win over West Liberty in the season-opener at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
With the victory, the Vulcans open the campaign at 1-0 under first-year head coach
Pete Curtis, while also claiming its first season-opening win since 2012. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers drop to 0-1 on the season after being picked third in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) North poll, as the league is debuting a two-division format.
In the second-overtime period, Cal U controled the ball early before freshman
Hannah Burgess (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) fired a shot toward the goal that hit the post. The Vulcans were able to keep the offensive push going after the rebound was collected in the box. Sophomore
Kiley Austin (Orchard Park, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) found Ross open on the right side of the box, who blasted the game-winning goal into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Hilltoppers produced an early goal-scoring chance at the 7:51-mark of the contest, as they saw a shot from sophomore Kaelyn Oskin hit the crossbar before being cleared after a follow-up shot was blocked. The Vulcans saw a few attempts go wide of the net halfway through the first half. The game remained scoreless at halftime after West Liberty held a 6-4 advantage on shots, while both goalies recorded one save.
Both teams registered a shot on goal in the opening minutes of the second half before neither team recorded an attempt for the next 10 minutes. The Hilltoppers nearly broke the tie in the 80th minute before sophomore goalkeeper
Gianna Sinatra (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) camp up with back-to-back saves to force the contest into overtime. West Liberty continued to test the Vulcan defense in the first overtime period by attempting three shots in the initial five minutes. The Hilltoppers were unable to capitalize in the closing minutes, as they saw a shot blocked and a header go wide of the net.
Sinatra made her first career start and finished the match with a career-high seven saves in over 102 minutes of action to earn the shutout win.
West Liberty out-shot Cal U by a 19-9 margin, including a 7-3 edge in shots on goal, while also posting a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Cal U begins Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play on Saturday, Sept. 1, when it travels to face Millersville at 1 p.m.
