CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington erased a two-goal halftime deficit with a pair of goals just 39 seconds apart, but Southern Utah answered late to hand the Eagles a 3-2 loss. Eastern controlled the attacking numbers throughout the match, finishing with a 28-6 advantage in shots and putting 13 attempts on goal.
Noelle Raczykowski and
Maya Bossenbrook paced the Eagles with six shots apiece, while
Deanna Montero scored on one of her three shots on goal. Bossenbrook added Eastern's second goal, with
Addison Stendera and Raczykowski each recording an assist.
Eastern created the first dangerous opportunity of the match in the ninth minute when Bossenbrook put an attempt on frame, forcing a save. Southern Utah responded quickly, finding the opening goal in the 10th minute before doubling its advantage in the 17th.
The Eagles continued to generate chances despite the early deficit. Raczykowski put two attempts on frame during the opening 45 minutes, while
Allison Bennett and
Reese Kincaid also tested the Southern Utah goalkeeper. Eastern finished the first half with nine shots, five on goal and two corner kicks, but went into the break trailing 2-0.
Eastern increased the pressure coming out of halftime. Bennett forced a save in the 50th minute before Bossenbrook fired three attempts during a stretch of sustained pressure.
Jenna Howe and
Mira Scarsella also put shots on goal as the Eagles continued to chip away at the Southern Utah defense.
The breakthrough came in the 78th minute. Following an Eastern corner kick, Stendera connected with Montero, who buried a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner to pull the Eagles within one at 2-1.
Just 39 seconds later, Eastern struck again. Raczykowski set up Bossenbrook, who finished into the bottom-right corner to erase the two-goal deficit and level the match at 2-2.
Southern Utah regained the lead in the 84th minute, but Eastern continued to press for another equalizer.
Delaney Deckett put an attempt on frame in the 86th minute, and Montero forced one final save in the closing seconds. The Eagles were unable to find a third goal, ending the comeback effort with a 3-2 final.
Up Next
Eastern returns home Sunday, Oct. 25, to host Utah Tech at 1 p.m. at the EWU Soccer Field.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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