Schmitt's Late Score gives CMS Women's Soccer 1-1 Tie with Cal Lutheran

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Ava Schmitt found the back of the net for the game tying goal in the 85th minute of the second half, allowing the Claremont Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team to finish with a 1-1 tie against the Cal Lutheran Regals on Saturday night at Pritzlaff field. 

With the draw, CMS saw its record move to 6-2-3, and 3-2-3 in SCIAC play as neither team was unable convert on opportunities in overtime. Cal Lutheran moved to 8-3-3, and 5-0-2 in the leauge with the tying finish. 

It was the second time Schmitt was able to produce a goal after trailing 1-0 at the half against a SCIAC opponent, as she blasted a strike against Chapman on Sept. 22 to give the Athenas a 1-1 tie. This time, she was able to find the ball at the top of the penalty area before launching a 18-yard goal past the Regals to give CMS life in the closing moments. 

Sonia Chan gave Cal Lutheran an early 1-0 advantage after Danielle Vis sent a corner kick in Chan's direction, allowing her to finish the header from just inside the box 27:25 into the first half. 

Goalkeeper Athena Manthouli recorded three saves, including a huge one in the 106th minute when she made a diving one-handed stop, sending the ball past the post for a corner kick. 

The Athenas had a great chance to end it in the first overtime on a counter off a Cal Lutheran corner kick. The ball came loose for a moment in the CMS goal before Emma Fogg cleared it away. Lizzie Iwicki then made a long 60-yard run up the right side before playing the ball across to Schmitt, who passed it to the top of the box to Ava Sherry, who then played Kaitlyn Helfrich in alone on goal. Helfrich got to the ball near the penalty line 12 yards out and was one-on-one with Cal Lutheran goalie Gabby Flores, but Flores came off her line and smothered the shot to prevent the Athenas from getting the golden goal.