Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
UC Santa Barbara
Wildcats, Gauchos battle to 1-1 draw in 2OT
8/27/2013 1:27:00 AM | Women's Soccer
OGDEN, Utah – The Wildcats' continued their unbeaten start to the 2013 season, but it certainly didn't come easy.
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Harrison scored her first goal of the year in the opening half and the Weber State University women's battled to a fierce 1-1 double overtime draw with UC Santa Barbara on Monday afternoon at Wildcat Soccer Field.
“(Santa Barbara) is a really good team; this was a good test for us,” Weber State coach Tim Crompton said. “I think any time you have two good teams, it's going to go back and forth like it did today.”
The Wildcats opened the match in command for the opening half-hour, utilizing their short, quick passing game to maintain possession and create chances.
Harrison punched Weber State into the lead in the 20th minute, latching onto a Chansi Crompton pass in the center of the box and smashing it to the right post. Sophomore defender Shaylee Petersen earned the secondary assist on the goal after playing the ball through to Crompton.
The assist was Crompton's eight career helper and moved the sophomore into a tie with former standout Ashley Wood for 10th place on Weber State career assist charts.
The Gauchos (1-0-1) slowly came into the match after the opening half-hour, and eventually leveled things at 1-1 in the 59th minute after playing in a shot that deflected off a Wildcat defender and into the back of the net.
It was the first goal allowed by the WSU defense this season.
Santa Barbara had a chance to take the lead just moments later after a foul in the box resulted in a penalty attempt for the Gauchos' Miranda Cornejo.
Weber State goalkeeper Ryann Waldman was up to the task however, stoning the penalty as Cornejo attempted to go to the right post, to keep the scoreline level.
Unlike the opening half, the Wildcats weren't able to establish their short-passing game as much in the second half, forcing play to turn more direct, which in turn resulted in more end-to-end action and allowed the Gauchos to get more of an attacking rhythm going during the second frame.
Despite chances by both teams down the stretch of regulation and in the overtime periods, neither was able to break through for a game-winner, and the two sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Weber State (1-0-1) will be back in action on Thursday night when they take to the road for the first time this season to take on in-state rival Utah Valley at 8 p.m. in Orem, Utah.
