Tigers defeat Chargers in comeback fashion

MITCHELL, S.D. – After allowing three goals in the first 36 minutes of the game, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team stormed back with a pair of goals in each half to defeat Briar Cliff University, 4-3 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference showdown Wednesday at the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell.

 The Chargers (9-5, 6-3 GPAC) tallied back-to-back goals in the 12^th and 15^th minutes to take an early 2-0 lead. With 10 minutes left in the half, BCU extended its' lead with another goal to hold a 3-0 advantage.

 This was the largest lead the Chargers held, as Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.) sailed a pass over the BCU defense and Jocelyn Behm (Sioux Falls, S.D.) put the ball away to get DWU on the scoreboard.

 Two minutes later, Behm found Josephine Bardsley (Tea, S.D.) who headed the ball into the back of the net to pull the Tigers (4-9-1, 1-8-1 GPAC) within a goal at halftime.

 Both teams settled into the flow of the game in the second half as neither side scored until the 67^th minute. Courtney Mascarenas (Pueblo, Colo.) dribbled the ball down the goal line and passed the ball to Bardsley who drilled the ball into the net to tie the game, 3-3.

 The game looked to be heading to extra time, but Behm had different plans. With two minutes to play, she sprinted past the Charger defense with the ball and shot the ball past the goalkeeper to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.

 The late goal in the 89^th minute was all DWU needed to put away BCU and seal the comeback victory.

 Bardsley tallied four shots and two goals, while Behm added five shots, two goals and an assist. Mascarenas notched an assist and Partida recorded a shot and an assist. Hannah Bowes (Omaha, Neb.) finished with seven saves in the net for DWU.

 The Tigers hit the road for the last time this season as the play Doane University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Crete, Neb.