The Nevada women’s soccer team (3-8-1, 0-2-1) drew with the Colorado College Tigers (4-4-4, 2-0-1) after a late second half comeback from the Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Mackay Stadium.
Both teams started off the first half aggressively, with the Wolf Pack taking early possession of the ball. In the fourth minute, freshman defender Samantha Wong recorded a shot on goal from distance that would ultimately be saved by Tigers senior goalkeeper Regan Wallace.
The Tigers found their first opportunity in the 19th minute, with freshman defender Olivia Wilson recording their first shot on goal before Wolf Pack junior goalkeeper Iyan Hernandez made the save.
In the 22nd minute, Nevada junior forward Carmen Coronado found herself alone as the Colorado College defense left a window open. Coronado misfired her shot towards the wide right of the goal and missed, unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Play continued to be aggressive on both sides and the Pack was able to capitalize on a mistake from the Tigers in the 42nd minute.
Wong recorded Nevada’s first goal at home since Aug. 23, finding the back of the net after her cross was inadvertently headed in by Colorado College’s Wilson. Their keeper, Wallace, also left the box in an attempt to stunt the incoming attack which led to the goal.
Going into the halftime break, the score settled at 1-0.
The second half showed no signs of Nevada backing down. In the 53rd minute, a cross from senior forward Olivia Loomis to senior forward Charlotte Bonney nearly found the back of the net, but Wallace ultimately stopped the Wolf Pack from expanding their lead.
After being awarded a corner kick, the Tigers quickly tried to respond. In the 58th minute, senior midfielder Kendall Memoly nearly headed the ball in, before Nevada’s Hernandez made a diving block. Tigers sophomore forward Kate Pulley tried to find the back of the net off Hernandez’s block, but was unable to do so.
Offensive action in the remaining half from the Pack slowed, only recording one more shot on target, until sophomore forward Ella Hallert found her way past Wallace in the 74th minute. Assisted by sophomore midfielder Avery Hayes, Hallert brought her goal tally on the year up to 3, giving Nevada a 2-0 lead.
Colorado College continued to put pressure on Nevada, searching for a breakthrough, and they found one in the 83rd minute. Freshman midfielder Ella Ashouri found the top left of the goal, bringing the score to 2-1.
Ashouri’s goal sparked a late resurgence for the Tigers, as Pulley would get through Nevada’s defense to level the score just three minutes later.
As four minutes remained in the half, Nevada was unable to bring the action to their side, ultimately drawing with Colorado College in a heartbreaking fashion.
The Wolf Pack has yet to win at home this season.
Nevada women’s soccer will next take on the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wāhine (4-4-1, 1-1-0) at Hawaii’s Honolulu, O‘ahu Lower Campus on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 3 p.m.
