Oberlag's Late Goal Helps CMS Women's Soccer Remain Unbeaten with 1-1 Tie at UC Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Sophomore midfielder Nicole Oberlag scored the tying goal with just 5:30 left in regulation for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team, as the Athenas came away with a 1-1 tie at UC Santa Cruz to remain unbeaten for the 2019 season on Sunday afternoon.

The tie moves the Athenas to 3-0-1 on the year after opening up with three straight shutout wins at home over Johnson & Wales, Illinois Wesleyan and Pacific Lutheran. UC Santa Cruz moves to 1-1-1 after defeating La Verne and falling to Pomona-Pitzer in its first two contests with SCIAC opponents. 

CMS appeared to be about to suffer a tough 1-0 defeat when it was able to come up with a late equalizer. First-year midfielder Lizzie Iwicki, who had just checked into the game one minute earlier, set up the goal with a pass to Oberlag, who was able to convert with just 5:30 left on the clock for her second goal of the year to level the score at 1-1. 

The Athenas kept the momentum going and nearly picked up the game-winner at the end of regulation, as Iwicki had her shot saved over the line for a corner kick, and senior midfielder Rhiann Holman had a header on the ensuing corner saved by UC Santa Cruz goalkeeper Alyssa Diaz-Tucker in the 87th minute. The Banana Slugs were able to withstand the late pressure, though, and keep the game scoreless heading into overtime. 

CMS was able to dominate play in the second half. After each team took four shots in the first half, the Athenas outshot UC Santa Cruz 7-0 over the second stanza, with six of the seven shots on target. That momentum carried into the first overtime, as senior midfielder Gabby Clouse had the first shot of the extra session saved over the end line by Diaz-Tucker for a corner kick in the 95th minute. Oberlag then had bids for game-winners saved by Diaz-Tucker in the final minute of the first overtime and in the fourth minute of the second overtime, as CMS finished with a 16-4 edge in shots (12-0 after halftime), including 11-1 in shots on net.

The Banana Slugs took a 1-0 lead with 17:27 left in the first half when they converted a quick goal off a CMS turnover. Tomiko Hoshjimi stole the ball in the offensive end of the field, and then found Jamie Floyd for the go-ahead goal at the top of the 18-yard box. 

CMS had several bids for a goal before Oberlag was able to convert. Holman was unlucky twice, hitting the crossbar in the 19th minute with the game still scoreless, and then having a potential tying goal cleared off the line by UC Santa Cruz defender Carly Cooper in the 53rd minute. Senior forward Sarah Tocher was also stopped twice in quick succession Diaz-Tucker in the 26th minute, as she was able to block Tocher's rebound attempt right after making in the initial save. 

The Athenas will be back in action at home next weekend when they entertain Redlands in a non-conference game on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Pritzlaff Field before opening SCIAC play next week at La Verne.