Overtime Penalty Kick Pushes Athenas Past Poets

WHITTIER, Calif. – Ninety minutes was not enough to decide a winner in Saturday morning's women's soccer match between the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas and the Whittier Poets. However, just nine minutes into the first overtime period the Athenas were fouled in the box and Sarah Malott (CMC) put through the ensuing penalty kick to give CMS the 1-0 victory.

Despite being outshot 18-15, CMS had the more quality of chances putting seven shots on frame compared to just four from the Poets. Defender Jacey Coniff (HMC) led the Athenas with three shots, including two attempts on frame.

In goal, Claire Hamson (CMC) recorded four saves for her second shutout of the season.

The Athenas did not get a good look at goal until the 18th minute when Coniff's attempt was saved by Whittier's keeper Stella Thermos. Aarthis Namasivayam (CMC) also put a shot on goal in the 27th minute, but her attempt was saved.

Hamson was tested by Lauren Kai with a shot on target in the 35th minute, but the CMS keeper turned the shot away and preserved the scoreless contest.

Just moments later, the Athenas earned a corner kick, but a shot from Coniff was saved and the score remained level through halftime.

CMS had quality chances early in the second-half, but Sarah Tocher (CMC) saw her shot in the 65th minute saved by new keeper Lyla Matar. A few seconds later, Malott took a crack at goal but her shot sailed high.

In the closing minutes of regulation, Kanoe Morihara nearly got the Poets on board with a shot in the 85th minute from close range. Her shot went straight at Hamson's chest for the save. Two minutes later, Whittier's Jazmin Gomez connected on a cross with a header, but her attempt hit the crossbar.

Despite the hectic nature of the final minutes, CMS and Whittier remained scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation.

In overtime, the Athenas saw a perfect opportunity to seal the victory when they managed to break past the Poets' backline on the counterattack. With numbers in the box, the Poets' fouled in the box to deny the scoring opportunity. The referee signaled for a penalty kick and Malott calmly converted the shot to win the game.

With the victory over Whittier, the Athenas are now 3-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in SCIAC play. The Athenas will hit the road against to face University of Redlands on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Game time slated for 7:00 p.m.