Photo by Junior Silva
Article by Marcus Fernandes
McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson College Women's soccer stepped on the field this Sunday for their KCAC opener. The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, was postponed because of the weather conditions. The teams played the first half, and a couple of minutes of the second half until the referees decide to stop the match.
Today's game showed the spectators the same scenario as Friday's game. The Bulldogs started the match at a high pace, keeping the warriors on the defensive half of the field for the most part. The ladies succeeded in connecting passes and finding the gaps to create scoring opportunities. Although the dominance in the game, the Bulldogs lacked a bit of luck and composure to convert the chances created. The Bulldogs had incredible five shots on post during the game: (Sr.)
Ally Holloway twice, (Sr.) Vanessa Cisneros once, (Sr.)
Emma Singleton once and (Fr.)
Viktoria Terry once. Despite all of the opportunities created, the half ended tied at 0-0.
The second half had both teams performing the same way until (Fr.)
Caitlin Buendia found the net on a beautiful goal, assisted by fellow freshman
Alexis Baylor. Just 3 minutes in the half, the winger received the ball on the right side, cut inside through the defender's legs, and finished with her left on the top right corner.
The goal did not change the warriors' attitude on the game. The Bulldogs kept looking for a second goal. However, on one of the few counter-attacks in the game, the Warriors found an equalizer. (Fr.)
Lauren Kunda had a save on the original shot, but no one was there to clear the rebound for the Bulldogs, and the Warriors finished.
The goal scored boosted the warriors' confidence in the game. The Bulldogs still had the ball most of the time. However, the opposing team started to explore the counter-attack more often. By the end of the game, with the possibility of overtime, the match was open, and the Bulldogs' dominance was not visible anymore. Tied at 1-1, the teams headed into overtime.
In the first overtime session, the Bulldogs created a couple of quality looks at net, but their poor luck held. After 10 more minutes of play the score remained unchanged and the Bulldogs and Warriors headed to a second overtime session.
Although the missed chances, the final score rewarded the best team in the game. A minute and a half into the second overtime (Sr.)
Ally Holloway received the ball, 35 yards out and took her chance. The ball traveled fast and found the net on the top left corner to seal the Bulldogs' win.
The Bulldogs had a remarkable 41 total shots in the game and put 19 of those on frame. The Sterling goal keeper had an amazing game, finishing with 17 saves. The Bulldogs split time in net between Kunda, who played the second half and picked up the win, and (Fr.) Emma Meinhodt, who got her first collegiate start.
 After the game, Bulldog Coach
Mark Olson expressed his thoughts on the game, "I'm so proud of these ladies for the way they played. When you create as many shots as we did without hitting the back of the net it is easy to get frustrated. These ladies just kept at it and it paid off with two of our newcomers scoring goals. As the game went on I was wondering if they all had a side game of crossbar challenge going because it certainly seemed like it during the game. I think we hit the crossbar at least 5 or 6 times. What a way for Caitlin to start her college career as this was her first official college game. This sterling team is a much-improved team and their goalkeeper played outstanding.
With the win, the Bulldogs move to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the KCAC. They will be back in action next Wednesday at 5:00 pm at Joel H. Wiens Stadium in Hillsboro, Kansas against Tabor College.
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