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BY I.A. STEWARTÂ
SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT
The UC Santa Cruz women's soccer team kept its playoff hopes alive, just barely.
After tying CSU East Bay 1-1 Wednesday, the Slugs stand at 10-4-2 (7-3-2 NCAA Division III), and fifth in the latest NSCAA West region poll.
Generally, four independent teams are granted at-large berths to the DIII tournament, so Sunday's match against Redlands (No. 3 in the West) essentially becomes a must-win for the Slugs.
"If we can pull off a win against them, it'll heighten our chances to get in the tournament, which is what we've been fighting for all along," head coach Michael Runeare said.
Freshman Annick Lamb scored the only goal for UCSC Wednesday, stealing a pass intended for the Pioneers' goalkeeper at the top of the left box and put it through the five-hole for the score in the seventh minute.
CSUEB tallied the equalizer in the 61st off a corner kick, and began to dominate the flow of play until the last few minutes of the second half, when the Slugs seemed to find a second wind.
The Slugs were unable to convert on several chances late, though, and into overtime, and had to settle for the draw.
"Obviously we have to finish in order to win these games, and I think we deserved to win the game," Runeare said, "but we didn't finish, so we just have to keep on working on executing."
Senior Lauren Philibosian was proud of the Slugs' effort, and knows they'll be in for a fight Sunday.
"We keep fighting and don't give up until the end," Philibosian said. "And that really says something about our team."
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