SPOKANE, Wash. -- (From Linfield's Sports Information Office) Two late goals gave the visiting Whitworth Pirates a dramatic 2-1 Northwest Conference overtime victory over the Linfield Wildcats Saturday afternoon at the Linfield soccer field. The Wildcats (2-3, 0-1 NWC) led the match 1-0 and appeared on their way to a colossal upset of the second-ranked Pirates (5-0, 1-0 NWC), but a goal in the final minute of regulation by Jenny Krzymowski (So., F, Gallup, N.M.) followed by Whitney Ramsey’s (Sr., F, Spokane, Wash.) eventual match-winner five minutes into the first extra period quashed any thoughts of a postgame celebration. Whitworth attacked first in the sixth minute. A collision in the center of defense allowed Penelope Crowe (Sr., F, Bellingham, Wash.) a left-footed shot from the left side. Starting goalkeeper Kelsey Hasselbladwas in good position to make an easy save. In the 18th minute, a throw-in for the Pirates down the right side allowed Emily Rohde (So., F, Lake Oswego, Ore.) to deliver a crossing pass, but Crowe could not direct the ball towards goal. Crowe was once again on the attack in the 22nd minute with her free-kick leaving Hasselblad flat-footed, but the ball rattled off the crossbar and away from danger. The Wildcats responded at the 30-minute mark with Pirates goalkeeper Callie Bergstrom (Fr., GK, Spokane, Wash.) misplaying a cross from Steph Caster. However, Kelli Gillespie couldn’t poke the ball home. The ‘Cats broke the tie in the 64th minute when Rachel Miles fought off her marker to loft a cross from the right side to a wide open Sarah Walton. Walton laid the ball off to Caster, whose slipped the ball under Bergstrom and into the net. Whitworth refused to surrender and pushed on for an equalizer immediately. Rohde played down the right side before dropping the ball back for Crowe but her shot was wide. Whitworth had another golden opportunity in the 75th minute when Kaylyn Plumb (So., D, Newman Lake, Wash.) ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Hasselblad reacted quickly to tip the ball off the crossbar before Lian Yuen toed the ball clear. The Pirates’ continual pressure paid dividends in the 89th minute. Crowe lofted a free kick into the box which was headed on target Krzymowski and slipped past Hasselblad to tie the game at one goal apiece. The Pirates notched the winning tally in the 95th minute when Ramsey latched onto a through-ball from Kara Tisthammer (Sr., MF, Spokane, Wash.) and slid a low shot past a sliding Hasselblad. Hasselblad came under constant pressure from shots and corner kicks, making 17 saves to set a new Linfield single-match record. Bergstrom, who faced eight shots, made four saves. Whitworth will continue its conference-opening trip to Oregon with a match at Willamette on Sunday at noon. |
