Occidental Strikes Twice Late to Hand CMS Women's Soccer First Loss

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Senior Kira Favakeh gave the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's soccer team a 1-0 lead with 10:33 to go in regulation, but Occidental's Anaise Nugent stunned the Athenas with two goals 51 seconds apart as the Tigers came away with a 2-1 win on Wednesday evening at Pritzlaff Field.

With the loss, the Athenas slip to 5-1-1 on the year while suffering their first defeat, as well as 1-1 in league play. Occidental remains unbeaten at 5-0-1 and 1-0-1 in conference. 

Favakeh stepped up to the spot with 10:33 to go after senior midfielder Rhiann Holman was fouled inside the penalty area, and slotted home the kick for her first goal of the year to give CMS the 1-0 lead. 

It took the Tigers only 1:53 to find the equalizer, though, as Occidental earned a corner kick. Isabella Bonomi took the corner, and junior goalie Cam Hamson collided with an Occidental player trying to punch the ball away. The ball bounced through the goalmouth to near the far post, where Nugent tucked it home from close range to level the score 1-1 with 8:40 left on the clock. 

Less than a minute after the ensuing kickoff, Savana Gonzales got the ball near midfield for the Athenas and had a hit-ahead pass up the middle that found Nugent breaking towards goal. From the top of the 18, she was able to place her shot over the onrushing Hamson and inside the left post to suddenly turn the 1-0 CMS lead into a 2-1 Occidental advantage with just 7:49 left. 

CMS pressed high after falling behind and sent several dangerous crosses into the box but were able to get off a tying shot attempt. Occidental then got the ball down to the CMS end and was able to kill the final three minutes keeping the ball near the corner flags. 

Maggie Baird finished with four saves to get the win in net for Occidental, while Hamson had two saves for the Athenas. 

CMS will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it travels to Cal Lutheran on Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest.