ROCKLIN, Calif. - Coming off a road trip this last weekend to Humboldt State, the Warriors returned to Jessup Field to host Westcliff on Thursday for a late afternoon kickoff that would see extra minutes, forcing a sudden-death battle in overtime that ended in the visiting Warriors' favor, 1-0.
Jessup head coach Rachel Moorehead said her team battled for the full 90 minutes but will need to learn from the heartbreak of losing in OT, "To battle for 96 minutes and lose like that is heartbreaking but we have a good battle coming our way soon so we need to mentally regroup and move forward."
Westcliff controlled most of the tempo in the opening 30 minutes of play with a total 6 corner kicks, but a tight defense from the home Warriors would leave them scoreless in their attempts.
Jessup would see a total of 4 shots to Westcliffs' 6 in the opening half, neither team making contact with the back of the net as the first half expired scoreless through 45 minutes.
The visiting team would see another strong start out the gate with a pair of shots in the opening minutes, but a defensive block and high miss would keep the score the same as the Warriors countered with their own shot, this one on goal by senior Alexia De La Paz in the 58th minute but a save by Westcliff would be recorded.
Westcliff would again lead the shots category in the second half with 5, the Warriors with 3 through the final 45 of regulation. Extra minutes would be the deciding factor as the two teams faced off in a winner takes all battle with 10 minutes on the clock.
Each team would record a shot, the Warriors striking first in the De La Paz, her fifth on the day and second on frame, but Westcliff's goalie would get the save to continue play in the 91st minute.
The game-winning goal would come for Westcliff in the 95th minute after a pair of corner attempts by the visiting Warriors to take the win, 1-0.
"We saw a lot of great play," Moorehead said, "As players continue to step up and fill their roles, we will have to be united as a whole team to accomplish our goals."
The final game of the week for women's soccer will be Saturday at 1pm against Dominican University at home, their last match before opening GSAC play next week against Westmont College.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).
