CLAREMONT, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz women's soccer team fought to a double overtime 0-0 draw with Pomona-Pitzer, dropping the contest 5-4 in penalty shootouts in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The game featured heavy pressure from Pomona-Pitzer on the offensive side of things but phenomenal defense from the Slugs and Ainsley Gove in goal. Gove made 10 saves on the day with the UCSC defenders Kristi Truong, Caitlin Walters, and Cassidy Segrell playing the entire 110 minutes. The Sagehens outshot UCSC 28-9, putting 11 on frame while the Slugs put five on goal. The PK decision bring the Slugs overall record to 10-2-6 with a 5-0-1 record over the last six games.
 
How It Happened
The Slugs were pressured early as Pomona-Pitzer took five shots in the opening 25 minutes of action but only managed to put one on goal. After another Sagehen shot in the 27th minute, UCSC countered with an attack of their own, taking four shots down the stretch of halftime with Emilie Brack and Amanda Scott both putting their attempts while the team earned one corner. Neither team could find the back of the net as we went into halftime tied 0-0.
 
The Sagehens and Slugs traded shots right out of the halftime break but Pomona-Pitzer put the pressure on in the 64th and 66th minute, putting two shots on goal to force Ainsley Gove to make crucial saves after a scramble in the crowded box had fans on edge looking for the game's first goal. The tension continued to rise down the stretch as Pomona-Pitzer put three more shots on goal and rung two off the crossbar, but none would find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime.
 
The Sagehens pressured heavily in the first OT, outshooting UCSC 6-1.  Ainsley Gove made another key save while Sydney Boyd put her shot on frame to force a Sagehen save. Boyd put another shot on goal in the second overtime, but Pomona-Pitzer controlled the rest of overtime, taking four shots with one going off the crossbar while Gove kept the score sheet clean with another save.
 
Penalty Kicks
The Slugs started out on top with a make from Camille Anneet, but the Sagehens converted their first attempt as well. UCSC missed the second attempt while Kristi Truong, Amanda Scott, and Amaya Espardinez all converted their attempts. Despite good attempts from Ainsley Gove, the Sagehens converted all five of their attempts to outlast UCSC 5-4 in penalty kicks.