Osler's 20-Yarder Sends Athenas Past Bulldogs

Box Score

REDLANDS, Calif. – It took the Athenas a rocket from 20 yards out by Wren Osler (CMC) to edge out the University of Redlands with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night. In an evenly contested match, the two teams held each other scoreless for majority of the game, but the game took an explosive turn starting in the 70^th minute as the two teams combined for three goals in an eight minute span. Kira Favakeh (HMC) scored the opener in the 70^th minute before Madison Mills tied it in the 73^rd minute, leading to Osler's game-winner in the 78^th minute.

The victory pushes the Athenas to fourth in the SCIAC with a 3-3-1 conference record and 4-5-1 overall.

The two teams looked fairly even on the field, as the Athenas only outshot the Bulldogs 11 to 9. Claire Hamson (CMC) did not see much action, recording only three saves while her counterpart Hannah Menk recorded two saves in 75 minutes of work.

University of Redlands looked to put the Athenas to work early in the first half as Hayley Romo attempted a shot at goal, only to see her attempt saved by Hamson in the 7th minute. Five minutes later, Mollie Craighead connected on a header, but her attempt sailed wide. The Athenas defense finally settled and did not allow a shot at goal until the 38th minute which was well-saved by Hamson. Despite Rhiann Holman's (CMC) close shot in the 27th minute that was saved by Menk, the Athenas were relatively quiet on the offensive end in the first half. 

The Athenas started to threaten more in the second half as Rhiann Holman launched a shot that went high in the 54th minute. Four minutes later, she took her chance again but saw the same result. In the 70th minute, Favakeh whipped a shot near the right corner and found the back of the net, scoring her first of the season. 

However, three minutes later the Bulldogs fought back when Madison Mills fired a shot from distance over the Athenas' defense and into the net.

The Athenas responded in the 78th minute thanks to Osler who unleashed a 20-yard cracker that sailed past the keeper to put CMS ahead 2-1. 

Osler almost notched a brace in the 81st minute, but saw her attempt saved by new goalkeeper Brittany Dinkins. Maddie Peterson (CMC) almost had her first goal of the season in the 88th minute, but her attempt was blocked by the Bulldogs' defense. 

The Bulldogs desperately pushed for an equalizer in the final seconds of the match, but Hamson managed to get her hands on Louisa Alstot's shot to end the game. 

CMS will return home on Saturday night to host University of La Verne at 7:00 p.m.