Women's Soccer | 10/8/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – Despite controlling possession for a majority of the contest, it took McPherson two goals in the last 20 minutes of the match to defeat Tabor College, 3-2. The game winning goal came off the foot of Breana Jones in the 87th minute.
“We played good soccer for about 70 minutes tonight,” said McPherson coach Robert Talley. “We’ve created more chances to score over the last four games and the goals will come once we learn to relax in front of the goal. As a team, we are starting the peak with our movement of the ball. This is by far the toughest mental challenge the team has had to deal with this season and they proved they can come back from any adversity if they remain calm and play their style.”
The Bulldogs outshot Tabor, 26-3, but two out of the three Bluejay shots found the back of the net. Goalkeeper Andrea Swanson recorded one save while allowing two goals in the victory.
With the win the Bulldogs improve to 4-4-1 (1-1 KCAC), while Tabor drops to 2-7-1 (0-2 KCAC).
Even with McPherson controlling the tempo early, Tabor forward Jessica Burden found the back of the net in the 16th minute for the early 1-0.
McPherson would equalize in the 43rd minute when Whitney Williams was taken down in the penalty box to set up an Ana Calderon penalty kick attempt. Calderon easily beat the keeper to even the score at one. The goal is Calderon’s first of the season and first attempt at a penalty kick.
Tabor took back the lead at 43:08 when forward Jessica Burden again found herself behind the McPherson defense, chipping a shot wide of Swanson in a one-on-one opportunity.
Finding themselves trailing for the second time in the game, the Bulldogs need to rally to pull out the victory. McPherson caught they needed in the 70th minute when Haley Cook blasted a shot off the goal keeper and bounced right to the feet of Amanda Aragon who scored on the open net to tie the game at 2-2. Aragon’s was her second on the season.
With time winding down in the second half, both sides were pressing to score the game winning goal. In the 87th minute that goal came for the Bulldogs, as Breana Jones netted the game winning goal on a 20 yard strike. Jones found an opening after receiving a pass from Whitney Williams back to the center of the field.
The Bulldogs will return to action Saturday when they take on Kansas Wesleyan University. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at McPherson Stadium.
