Redhawks Come From Behind to Earn 2-1 Victory over UC Irvine

After going down early, a pair of come from behind goals helped guide the Seattle University women's soccer team to 2-1 victory over UC Irvine Sunday afternoon at Anteater Stadium. The Redhawks initially struggled to get their offensive game going, but goals from Heather Thomas (Woodinville, Wash.) and Renee Vandermause (Colbert, Wash.) led SU to their second consecutive win and improved the squad to 2-2 on the year. UCI falls to 1-1-1 on the season.

"It wasn't the prettiest game of soccer on our part," said head coach Julie Woodward. "We have a lot of tenacity and evening the score right before the half and getting the go ahead goal in the second half shows a lot of character on our part."

As the Redhawk offense was unable to get off solid scoring opportunities early, the Anteaters took advantage of their opportunity to control possession of the ball. Despite both squads shooting three shots in the first half, UCI sent in two on target including their lone goal of the match. In the 21st minute Irvine's Mar Rodriguez knocked in the early goal off a Jordan Bruce crossed the ball to Lexi Kopf in the box.

The following 20 minutes saw all three of Seattle U's shots in the half, including an Emma Levy (Sammamish, Wash.) shot that hit the crossbar off a corner kick. As the clock wound down to halftime, Irvine committed a foul outside the box. Thomas evened the score at the 41:42 minute mark with her free kick from 25 yards out. It was the redshirt freshman's first career goal and sent SU into the locker room with a 1-1 tie.

The second half started with shots from both sides, including one from freshman Ava Ames (Seattle, Wash.) that the Anteater 'keeper Danielle de Seriere was able to save. Fourteen minutes into the second half, the Redhawks had the ball inside the UCI box. Seattle U took a corner kick which the Anteater backline attempted to clear out. Redhawk defender Vandermause controlled the ball after the UCI defense deflected it out of their box and sailed in a shot from 20 yards out to score the game-winner. The go ahead goal was the junior's first career goal.

After taking a 2-1 lead early in the second period, the Redhawks worked to protect their goal and prevent Irvine from evening the score. Goalkeeper Madison Goverde (Snohomish, Wash.) earned her second victory of the season between the posts. In the game she tallied four saves.

Seattle U will remain on the road, as they travel to Cheney, Wash. to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles on Friday, Sept. 3 in a 4:30 p.m. contest. The Redhawks will then return home to host Gonzaga two days later in a 1 p.m. match at Championship Field.