Southern Oregon Edges Royals In Opener

Fullerton, CA- Hope International of Fullerton's Women's Soccer officially kicked off their 2011 season on Saturday afternoon by hosting Southern Oregon at Fullerton College Soccer Park. Sophomore Jordan Benson opened the scoring on an assist from Sophomore Megan Gonzalez. But on the strength of a rotating door of subs, the Raiders scored the final three goals to take the 3-1 win.

The first half was rather uneventful as it was primarily played between the goal boxes. The Royals (0-1) took two shots while the Raiders (2-1) managed five shots. Both teams put just one shot on goal though neither shot was a real threat.

After the break, HIU came out fired up and three minutes into the half Junior Kristen Enriquez put a shot on target from the left corner of the penalty box.

Less than 90 seconds later, the Royals found the back of the net when Benson and Gonzalez (who was a late first half sub that stayed on for the second half) worked a perfect give and go near the top of the box that sent Benson on a semi-breakaway. With SOU's goalkeeper Jessica Kuehlwein bearing down on her, Benson bent a shot around Kuehlwein and into the net.

Five minutes later, Enriquez put another shot on target- which was saved.

Sophomore goalie Savannah Wood made a diving fully extended save to her right on a low line drive through the box in the 63rd minute.

The Royals maintained the 1-0 edge until the 69th minute when SOU's Alyssa Bricker sent a ball into the box that found the head of Stephanie Carr who headed in the equalizer into the upper "V" on the right side.

Nine minutes later, Carr struck again as she volleyed a ball out of the air on the back post on a ball served up from the right sideline.

In the 85th minute, a failed clear by the Royals went to the feet of Jacquie Galvez who let a shot fly from 30 yards out, a stride or two inside the left sideline, that just carried and carried right into the far upper corner.

Less than 45 seconds later, Wood was seeing déjà vu as a ball was hit from the left sideline headed toward the top shelf again but this time she just managed to get a hand on it and push the shot outside the post to keep the score at 3-1. Wood finished the match with 6 saves.

Next up for the Royals is the toughest scheduling part of their season as they will play four matches over the course of six days. They play at Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday at 4:00 pm before heading up to Northern California two days later for three matches in four days.

Source: HIU Sports
Photo by Liza Rozales