Women's Soccer 10/9/2012 12:21:00 AM

Women’s Soccer Scores Overtime Win

Box Score VICTORIA, Texas – The TAMIU women’s soccer team came storming back from a 1-0 halftime deficit, scoring two unanswered goals in a 2-1 overtime triumph over the University of Houston-Victoria Monday night.

After being outshot in the opening half 6-5, the Dustdevils proved the aggressor in the second putting up ten shots to the Jaguars four.

The Jaguars grabbed the lead in the 44^th minute, when Nereyda Martinez took a high arching shot from the top of the circle. TAMIU keeper Aissa Pedraza was able to get her fingertips on the ball, but the momentum of the shot carried the ball helplessly into the net.

The Dustdevils trailed until the 66^th minute, when Sam Zerilli equalized with a shot from the top of the box after receiving a pass from Jessica Parker.

Junior defender Alyssa Perez scored the golden goal in the 93^rd minute of play, set up by midfielder Sol Medina. Medina found freshman Kim Garcia with a well-placed through ball leaving Garcia in a 1-on-1 with the UHV keeper. Garcia’s initial shot was saved but ricocheted straight back and Garcia was able to spot Perez coming unmarked off the left flank. Garcia’s pass, nearly deflected by the keeper, found its target and Perez buried the game winner.

After dropping two straight matches to tough opponents, Head Coach Claudio Arias said he was happy to see his team is continuing to fight.

“This is a very determined group of girls and I’m extremely proud of their efforts. It would’ve been very easy for us to drop our heads coming off two losses and then falling behind, but we didn’t. We stayed with our game plan and executed very well in the second half. “

TAMIU finished with a 16-10 advantage in shots and edged UHV with eight shots on goal compared to six. Dustdevils’ keeper Aissa Pedraza netted five saves allowing just the one goal in the opening period. Medina led TAMIU with three shots, all three on target, while Sam Zerilli finished with three shots, two of which were on goal. Laura Twinem, Alyssa Perez, and Briana Garcia each added two shots apiece.

The win lifts TAMIU’s overall record to 8-3 on the season as the Dustdevils prepare to return to conference action later this week. Thursday night the Dustdevils will host conference rival UT-Permian Basin, looking for the season sweep of the Falcons after taking a 2-1 overtime decision in Odessa earlier this year. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at Dustdevil Field.

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