Big Second Half Propels Griffins to Win Over Webster
What a SLIAC Game of the Week it was today as the Fontbonne University women's soccer team erased a two-goal second-half deficit scoring three in less than nine minutes for the wild 3-2 victory over Webster.
Game Breakdown
Webster put Fontbonne in a hole early with Grace Rodgers getting a pass just outside the box and scoring over the head of Mary Beers in the fourth minute to give them a 1-0 lead.
Fontbonne offense peppered Webster goalie Taryn Banfield the rest of the way with a 7-3 shot advantage but Banfield made four saves keeping the Griffins scoreless after 45:00 minutes of action.
In the second half, the Gorloks extended its lead out to 2-0 in the 65th minute when Mackenzie O'Neal passed a through ball for Jordan Lande and she was able to get behind the Griffins defense scoring her eighth on the year.
However, the Fontbonne comeback was on after that. Caroline Neal had the ball at midfield in the 76th minute and she split the Gorloks' defense with a great pass for Kierstyn Weaver. The Florissant, Mo., native, used her speed and scored her second on the year to the far post narrowing the deficit down to 2-1.
In the 78th minute, the Griffins were awarded a free-kick to the left side of the box. Caitlyn Smith ripped her shot attempt into the far top corner of the net to tie the game.
The team made the comeback complete in the 84th minute when Webster had a costly turnover from 25 yards out that found the foot of Molly Kovarik. The Festus, Mo., native, took one touch and lifted her shot over Banfield for her sixth on the season giving Fontbonne the 3-2 lead.
That proved to be more than enough with the Griffins closing out the final minutes and hanging on for the one-goal win.
Fontbonne Leaders
- Fontbonne finished with a 22-7 shot advantage.
- Kovarik led with 12 shots and six landing on net. Her goal was her 42nd in her career.
- Weaver tied Krystal Kohenskey with three shots.
- Weaver's goal was her 20th in her career.
- Smith's goal was her seventh at Fontbonne.
- Beers notched win No. 25 in 34 starts.
STORY COURTESY OF FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
