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HONOLULU, Hawaii – HBU women's soccer team dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Fairfield in the Huskies' season-opener against Fairfield on Friday evening at Waipi'o Peninsula Soccer Stadium in the OHANA Hotels by Outrigger Shootout hosted by Hawaii.
Fairfield (1-0) tested the Husky defense first, putting a pair of shots on goal within the first 17 minutes but keeper
Alanis Guevara turned both attempts away. Senior
Ellee Hall had a shot saved during the 19
th minute but found the net at the 21:17 mark to put HBU (0-1) ahead 1-0. The Stags struck back just five minutes later thanks to a goal by Alex Madden during the 27
th minute.
In the second half, Madden quickly tested Guevara but the Husky goalie made the stop less than two minutes in to keep things knotted at 1-1. In the 52
nd minute, junior
Sabriah Spencer flicked header on goal but Megan DeFeo turned the shot away. Despite opportunities for both teams, regulation came to an end with the score still at 1-1. Both halves in regulation ended with the Stags holding an 8-3 advantage in shots over of the Huskies.
Freshman
Emily Harves managed the only shot attempt in the first overtime period, putting her attempt on goal during the 97
th minute. In the second overtime, Fairfield broke the tie for the win on a Julia McGuire goal at the 102:37 mark.
Guevara, HBU's goalkeeper, took the loss despite making seven saves while the HBU defense accounted for two more saves. Hall's goal was her first of the season and 16
th for her career. The senior attempted three shots with two on goal. The Stags finished the match with 11 shots on goal while HBU recorded four.
"I was very pleased with the team's performance tonight," said head coach Misty Jones. "The loss hurts because we played so hard and so well at times. We are still trying to figure personnel out on the field. We have had three different starting line-ups and played in two different systems in our three matches. We are young and I am excited at how well we are progressing. The season is a marathon and not a sprint and we are off to a good start. We have a tough match on Sunday but we are up for the task. The girls showed a lot of perseverance and grit tonight which will serve us well in future matches."
The Huskies continue play in Hawaii at the OHANA Hotels by Outrigger Shootout with a matchup against Utah Valley on Sunday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m. central.
