REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team (1-0-1) ended their busy weekend with a 2-2 draw against Willamette University Sunday morning at Farquhar Field.
The Bulldogs picked up the equalizing goal from Caprial Loescher (Portland, OR) in the 53rd minute and then the go-ahead goal from Anika Schmied (Santa Cruz, CA) in the 54th, but they were unable to hold the lead in the draw.
Sabrina Semmere (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) earned the first shot on-goal for the Bulldogs in the fifth minute but the Bearcat keeper was able to make the stop. Malia Kuhl (Seattle, WA) and Natalie Turiace (San Dimas, CA) also forced saves from her but the game remained scoreless through 19 minutes.
The Bearcats got on the scoreboard first in the 42nd when they took advantage of a throw in that led to a Bearcat carrying possession into the box before slipping a shot past a diving Shannon Stewart (San Jose, CA).
Just over two minutes after conceding the go-ahead goal Stewart made a save that kept it at a one-goal deficit at the half.
CJ Akroush (Pasadena, CA) made her presence known for the first time in the 52nd when her long distance attempt beat the keeper high, but it would hit the crossbar keeping the U of R off the scoreboard.
Seconds later Faith Kasper (Menifee, CA) would set up the equalizer serving a ball from the right wing, just outside the 18-yard box, finding the foot of Loescher who finished off her first goal as a Bulldog deadlocking the game at 1-1.
A minute and a half later after finding the equalizer, the Bulldogs' Kasper served another look into the box this time back post where Schmied was waiting headed it home moving the score to 2-1.
Despite all the momentum with the Maroon and Grey, Willamette would take advantage of a bad pass out of the back line making it 2-2.
There were only two more shots on target, one for each side, the rest of the game as neither team was able to test each other's back line.
Kasper finished with two assists, the first two of her career. The Schmied goal was also the first of her career. For the Western Oregon University transfer, Loescher netted her first Bulldog goal and the first of her collegiate career.
Redlands gets a week off before hosting Macalester College next Sunday, September 8 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
