Jessica Cortez's OT Goal Completes Comeback In 3-2 Win Over UTEP

Sunday, September 2

Riverside, CA

1:00 PM

UC Riverside

UTEP

Jessica Cortez's OT Goal Completes Comeback In 3-2 Win Over UTEP

9/2/2012 8:41:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Riverside—The UC Riverside Women's Soccer Team found itself trailing, 2-0, late in the first half Sunday afternoon, but Celina Valencia put the Highlanders on the board prior to intermission, Andrea Morales scored the tying goal in the second period, and Jessica Cortez sent UCR fans home happy with the game-winner in overtime as the Highlanders won, 3-2. (Box Score) (Watch The Highlight Video)

It was just the second time in the 12-year history of the program that UC Riverside has come from two goals down to win a match. The first came in a 3-2 victory over Florida Atlantic on August 31, 2007 (box score/recap).

Tess Hall put the Miners up 1-0 with 28:46 gone in the first on a penalty kick following a UC Riverside foul in the UTEP box. Hall had a hand in the Miners' second goal 11 minutes later as she sent a free kick into the box from 30 yards out, and Skye Schultz got a head on it knocking it past UCR keeper Jessica White.

Rather than fold up the tent, though, the Highlanders fought back. With just 1:02 to go in the first period, Kaitlin Anzalone sent a free kick from the right side of the field to the left side of the box. Lindsey Ahmed rose above the defense, heading the ball back towards the middle, and Valencia poked the ball past UTEP keeper Sarah Dilling to cut the Miners lead in half.

From that point on it was all Highlanders. UCR outshot UTEP 12 to four in the second period and had six corner kicks to none for the Miners.

The Highlanders picked up the equalizer with 12:35 to go in regulation as Valencia found Shelley Brumbaugh open on the right side of the field, and Brumbaugh sent a cross towards the UTEP goal. Morales was there to complete the exchange, and she dented the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

Morales almost scored her second goal of the match in the first overtime period, as she found herself one on one against the UTEP keeper, but her shot caromed off of the left post and out of harm's way.

The Miners cleared the ball, but Briana Thomasson was there to secure it 35 yards out, and she found Cortez streaking into the box from the right side for what would prove to be the game-winner.

The Highlanders are on the road this weekend as they travel to Fresno State on Friday, September 7 for a 7 pm PT kick off, and to San Jose State on Sunday, September 9 for a 1 pm start.

NEW MEXICO STATE 1, SOUTHERN UTAH 0
Riverside—New Mexico State ran its record to 4-1-0 on the season with a 1-0 win over Southern Utah (0-4-0) in the first match of the day, Sunday. Layla Todd sent a cross from the left side into the center of the box with 2:15 remaining in the first period, and Katelyn Smith put it in the back of the net for her first goal of the season.