JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Nov. 2) – Despite holding the lead at halftime, the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team fell by a 2-1 margin at Pitt-Johnstown in overtime on Saturday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the loss, the Vulcans drop to 3-11-1 overall behind a 2-11-1 record in divisional action. Cal U now holds a 1-1-1 record in overtime matches this season. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats improve to 6-11 this season with a 5-10 mark in conference play.
Pitt-Johnstown pressured the net in the opening minutes of the match with a pair of shots and a corner kick. The Vulcans answered with back-to-back corner kicks before sophomore
Rebecca Lyxell (Stockholm, Sweden/Norra Real) had two shots cruise wide of the net. Cal U would continue to control possession and tally three more corner kicks in a span of nearly four minutes. The Mountain Cats then went on a counter-attack and forced senior goalkeeper
Reilly McGlumphy (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) into a save at the 21:40-mark. Late in the first half, the Vulcans were awarded a penalty kick after a foul in the box. Freshman
Juliana Cruz (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township) took the kick and saw her attempt saved before scoring a goal off the rebound, her team-leading fourth goal of the season, in the 36th minute. Pitt-Johnstown would total two shots and a pair of corner kicks in the closing minutes, as the Vulcans took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Mountain Cats quickly tied the score in the second half on a goal from Kyra Watkins, her first of the year, to tie the contest at 1-1 at the 48:35-mark. The Vulcans then tallied three shots, including a pair on goal, in the 55th minute, as the Pitt-Johnstown goalkeeper collected two saves. The Mountain Cats looked to take the lead in the second half, but McGlumphy would grab three more saves over a nearly 15-minute stretch to keep the contest tied. The match would head into overtime after Pitt-Johnstown was unable to convert on a late corner kick.
In overtime, Cruz nearly scored at the 90:41-mark before a team save in front of the net kept the match tied at 1-1. The Mountain Cats immediately went on the counter-attack and a foul inside the 18-yard box forced a penalty kick. Watkins would deliver the game-winner from the spot in the 92nd minute, her second goal of the game, to seal the victory for Pitt-Johnstown by a 2-1 margin.
McGlumphy registered her first start of the season and collected five saves on 15 shots faced in just over 90 minutes of action.
The Mountain Cats out-shot the Vulcans by a 15-13 margin, including a 7-6 edge in shots on goal, while Cal U recorded an 8-7 advantage on corner kicks.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Wednesday, Nov. 6, when they travel to face Seton Hill in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with play set for 2 p.m.
