MITCHELL, S.D. – In a back-and-forth affair, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's soccer team fell short to conference rival Dordt University by a score of 4-3 in overtime during Great Plains Athletic Conference play on Wednesday from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D. Dordt scored the decisive goal in the 97th minute and escaped with the one-goal victory.
The Dakota Wesleyan offensive attack raced out to yet another fast start led by DWU senior Jozy Bardsley (Tea, S.D.). Bardsley, who finished the match with six shots, struck a trio of shots in the opening 10 minutes of action. Though, the score sat deadlocked at 0-0 in the early going.
DU responded with its own offensive momentum before Taira Shimata (Mililani, Hawaii) nearly found the back of the net for the Tigers (4-5-0, 1-3-0 GPAC) in the 28th minute. Minutes later, Alyssa Crnic (Omaha, Neb.) scored her first of two goals in the match off an assist from Bardsley and DWU garnered the 1-0 lead.
Both teams had opportunities in the remainder of the period, however, the score sat in favor of the Blue and Gray at halftime, 1-0. The Defenders (6-4-1, 1-3-1 GPAC) held a slight 9-7 advantage over Dakota Wesleyan in shots while Isabella Gregg (Moreno Valley, Calif.) kept a clean net during the first 45 minutes of action.
Out of the gate to start the second period, Dordt erupted for three-straight goals in the early going and the Defenders held a 3-1 lead in the 56th minute.
Unphased, the Tigers clawed their way back following a pair of shots by Kamryn Harrop (Willard, Utah) and Crnic, who once again found the back of the net in the 64th minute. Alondra Partida (Salinas, Calif.), who ended the match with four shots, provided the assist and the deficit was narrowed to 3-2.
Deandrea Johnson (Antioch, Calif.) assisted Harrop for the game-tying goal in the 73rd minute and matched the score at 3-3 late in the second period. A late shot by Partida and a final corner kick by DU were both attempts at a possible game-winning goal, though the match sat deadlocked at the end of regulation.
Despite a pair of attempts on goal by the Dakota Wesleyan offense early in the overtime period, DU netted the decisive goal in the 97th minute and secured the 4-3 road victory. The Tigers attempted 17 shots along with five shots on goal.
DWU closes out its three-game homestand on Saturday at 1 p.m. versus Concordia University from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.
