Box Score Records: St. Bonaventure Bonnies 0-1-2 | Oakland Golden Grizzlies 0-1-3
Location: Marra Athletics Fields Complex – St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
Starters: St. Bonaventure: GK Beth Moore (1), M Alex Pochop (4), D Mirae Whitaker (5), M Bianca Kristo (6), M Alex Meador (7), F Abby Maiello (8), F Lauren Hill (10), D Jennifer Morris (13), F Danielle Vis (16), D Stephanie Jenkins (24), M Gabriella Balseca (28)
Oakland: GK Alison Holland (35), D Aly Rawson (4), M Emma Voelker (6), F Alice Palmer (8), M/D Brianne Horne (9), M Jamie Horne (10), D Maria Zandi (14), F Joan Seija (17), M Vlad Gurovski (19), M Katy Wagner (20), F Cecilie Dokka (26).
The Short Story: St. Bonaventure opened its home season as they welcomed the Oakland Golden Grizzlies and earned their second consecutive tie 1-1 double-overtime decision.
The Bonnies came out strong with several scoring opportunities early in the game, including a shot by Alex Meador from just outside the box that caromed off the cross bar.
However, it was the Golden Grizzlies who scored first, as Cecilie Dokka juked a Bona defender and buried a goal from the left side at the 17:02 mark.
At the 51:38 mark, Bonaventure drew even when Abby Maiello squeezed the ball by the goalkeeper through a crowd of players for her first goal of the season.
The Golden Grizzlies answered with a handful of opportunities of their own, including two indirect kicks at the 69:54 and 67:08 marks from just outside the box. But the Bona defense held tough and preserved the 1-1 tie.
Oakland flirted with breaking the tie once again as a shot attempt at the 78:40 mark hit the left post.
With one minute remaining in the second overtime period, Marley Jarvis ripped a shot of the Oakland crossbar, inches away from giving the Bonnies the lead.
With neither team able to break through in the overtime periods the game ended in a 1-1 tie. St. Bonaventure is now 0-1-2, and Oakland stands at 0-1-3.
Coach's Corner:
"For the second straight game, we go down a goal, not because we were playing bad soccer, but because we just got caught a little bit," said Bonnies' head coach Steve Brdarski. "As a coach, though, we come back both times and score goals. We show fight and we show spirit.
"It's always good to create chances. As long as you're creating chances, the finishing will come.
"We did a great job defending the set pieces. I think we stood strong, we got our head on it and we got the ball out. Beth [Moore], in that second half, there were some opportunities where she had to stand her ground and make a save, make herself look big, and I thought that was impressive. Also our freshman center back [Gretta LaCouture], it's pretty tough when coach tells you to warm up and you go in and you're cool as a cucumber as she was. She stepped in there and made things happen."
Inside The Stats/Game Notes:
- The Bonnies received a 1-1 2 OT tie for the second consecutive game. The St. Bonaventure and Canisius battled to the same result Aug. 25th.
- At the time of Oakland's first goal, SBU was outshooting the Golden Grizzlies 6-1, and went on to outshoot Oakland 8-3 in the first half.
- However, Oakland outshot the Bonnies 12-2 in the second half.
- Abby Maiello's goal was her first of the season.
- Oakland had six corners in the second half and came up empty on all six.
- Senior goalkeeper Christina Sarokon was kept out of the lineup for the third straight game dealing with a quad injury.
Next Up: St. Bonaventure will continue their four game home stand Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 7:00 pm when Big 4 rival Buffalo comes to town. The Bulls defeated St. Bonaventure 1-0 in last years contest.
