SHREVEPORT, La. – It was a long time coming after weather delays, moving the game to CE Byrd High School, and a double overtime finish. But as the clock struck 11 p.m., no matter how many chances it took, the Ladies made sure to finish the contest in the 101st minute.
Freshman Gabby McDonald ripped a shot from the left side of the field that the Bulldogs saved to the far post. Classmate Amy Moreno saw her first shot also stopped, but Moreno picked up the rebound and found the back of the net as Centenary (3-0, 1-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) overcame a two-goal deficit to down Texas Lutheran (1-1-1, 0-1 SCAC) 4-3 (2OT) Friday night, September 8.
After a rain delay, an eventual move to another location in Shreveport, and the Gents Soccer game, the Ladies fell behind by two tallies in the 20th minute. However, sophomore Pamela Fonseca scored in the 31st minute to cut into the deficit at the half. After a centering pass from Montes, Fonseca went left past the defender and found the back of the net.
Montes scored the equalizer, her conference-leading third goal of the season, in the 52nd minute. Montes snuck around the defender and tallied the unassisted goal to bring the Ladies back from the two goal deficit.
After Texas Lutheran Bailey Nimtz scored her second goal of the night directly off free kick, Centenary again scored the equalizer. Right in front of the Centenary bench on the left sideline, junior Olivia Jackson sailed a free kick far post. Montes crossed back in front of the goal, and freshman Veronica Dougherty scored to tie the game.
Montes finished the night with four shots, two of which were on target, with a goal and an assist. Besides leading the SCAC in goals, she also leads the conference in assists (three) and points (nine).
Centenary took a huge advantage near the end of regulation and into overtime when a Texas Lutheran player was sent off with a red card. It showed in the extra periods as Centenary put all five shots on target. Texas Lutheran's lone shot in overtime went wide.
In the first extra period, Fonseca nearly ended it in the 100th minute with a shot for the bottom 90 left post. However, Texas Lutheran's Stephanie Barrientos stopped the shot and the contest went to the second session. Fonseca led the Ladies by putting all five shots on target.
It took less than a minute for Centenary to score the golden goal.
Texas Lutheran's Jaclyn Smolik scored the first goal in the 16th minute when she chipped the ball over the goalkeeper's head.
Sophomore Maggie Pitcher and freshman Avery Sanderson each spent a half in goal for the Ladies, grabbing two saves each. Pitcher played all of overtime in goal and never faced a shot. Barrientos played all 100:52 in goal for Texas Lutheran, grabbing 12 saves on 16 shots faced.
With the win, Centenary has now won its last three SCAC openers. This includes two-straight home conference wins coming back from a one-goal deficit at half.
Centenary returns to action Sunday when it faces Schreiner. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Stay logged in to GoCentenary.com and Twitter (@GoCentenary) for possible time or location changes due to potential weather in the Shreveport area this weekend.
