STOCKTON, Calif. – A short-handed goal by Pacific in the second half put the hosts ahead while HCU held a marked advantage in shots on goal but was unable to find an equalizer, falling 2-1 on Thursday evening at Knoles Field in the women's soccer season-opener.
Early on, the Huskies (0-1) had the first attempt on goal, a long-range attempt off the foot of
Danika Etter in 11
th minute, but the first goal of the contest belonged to the host Tigers (1-0). Roughly a minute later, Pacific's Alexis Pashales redirected a cross from Ka'ui Pinkney inside the far post to make it a 1-0 game.
In the 29
th minute, Pacific defender Allie Jones was shown a red card and sent off after pulling down
Emily Jaimes from behind at the top of the 18-yard box. HCU pulled even in the 39
th minute when an attempt to clear by the Pacific defense landed at the feet of
Katie Marker who blasted a shot past the keeper from just outside the 18-yard box and sent the teams into the break tied 1-1.
The Tigers regained the lead less than four minutes into the second half when an Ariana Gronauer pass split a pair of HCU defenders and freed up Taylor Curtis who sent a shot into the top left corner. The Huskies put a pair of attempts on target in the 52
nd minute but Pacific keeper Libby Davy made both saves. In the 69
th minute, a free kick from
Alexa Huerta was headed on goal from the middle of the box by
Alexia Murillo but the shot was, again, saved.
Olivia Rossman and Huerta had shots on target in the final five minutes but neither could find the net.
The Huskies out-shot the Tigers by a 15-10 margin with eight shots on goal while allowing Pacific just three. Corner kicks were 7-3 in favor of HCU.
Marker's goal gives her 13 for her career, trying her for 10
th in program history in goals scored. Additionally, it places her 10
th all-time in points scored at HCU with 34 having been tied for 10
th at 32 heading into the season.
Chloe Bagshaw had one save in goal for the Huskies.
The Huskies play their second game of their season-opening trip to California on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 3:00 p.m. CT against the Sacramento State Hornets.
