WALLA WALLA, Wash. - - The Loggers knocked off No. 6- ranked College of Idaho, 3-1, in a hard fought non-conference matchup.
How it Happened
Puget Sound set the tone early, controlling possession and out-shooting the Yotes 5-3 in the first half, though neither team could find the back of the net before the break. That changed just three minutes into the second half, when College of Idaho struck first to take a 1-0 lead, but the Loggers wouldn't stay behind for long.
Not even two minutes later, Kate Short drew a foul in a dangerous spot just outside the box, setting it up for Hayden Goodman. Goodman stepped up and hammered it into the top left corner to tie the game at 1-1.
With the score level, Short kept knocking on the door. She fired off three shots in the stretch that followed, relentlessly testing the Yotes' backline.
The Loggers completed the turnaround with 13 minutes left to play, and once again, Goodman was at the center of it. Her corner kick found Ellie Rutkin at the back post, who headed the ball across the box to Charlotte Willis for a picture-perfect finish, giving Puget Sound a 2-1 lead.
The Loggers' defense took control of the match. College of Idaho pushed hard for an equalizer, but Puget Sound's back line held firm, staying organized and connected to limit the Yotes to just a single corner kick over 90 minutes.
Puget Sound put the finishing touch on the win with seven minutes remaining. Leila Hausia-Haugen sent a driving ball to Kate Short in the box, where she headed it home and put the game out of reach. The Loggers controlled the ball for the remainder of the match, closing out a hard earned 3-1 win over a top opponent.
What Happens Next
The team returns home Thursday, September 10 at 4:30 pm for their first home game of the season, taking on No.4 -ranked (Region) Azusa Pacific University. It'll be the squad's third game of the year as they look to carry their strong start into a tough test against one of Division II's top opponents.
