In a game as tight as Sunday’s, the contest typically hinges on one big play.
That big play belonged to St. Edward’s.
Lauren Heller’s pass sprung Rina Soobadoo, whose breakaway chance from the right wing beat goalkeeper Caitlyn Espinosa inside the far left post in overtime to send No. 3 St. Edward’s to a 1-0 win over No. 2 seed Fort Lewis College in the second round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer National Championships on Sunday at Dirks Field.
The goal was the lone differentiating factor in a game where both teams had the better of stretches of play and statistically were even. St. Edward’s (18-0-2) had 12 shots to FLC’s 11, while the Skyhawks (16-6-0) had three corner kick attempts to two for the Hilltoppers. St. Edward’s had three shots on goal to two for FLC.
But the one big play sent the Hilltoppers into a Sweet 16 meeting with Metro State, which upset previously unbeaten Colorado Mines on Sunday in Golden.
The player who made the big play has little recollection of it.
“I don’t remember a lot of it, to be honest with you,” Soobadoo said with a grin. “I just remember Heller did so well to get the ball through to me. I took a big touch. ... I didn’t even see it go in; I just heard everyone celebrating.”
FLC’s head coach thought his defense had made a good play at the right time until the tide turned quickly.
“One of the center backs was hunting to get that ball off the girl and kind of try to step in front of her,” Damian Clarke said. “I thought she did so and thought it was well done and safe. I mean, honestly, I was telling her, ‘great defending, great defending.’”
FLC was outshot in the first half but had perhaps the better scoring opportunities with a handful of runs leading to shots that went just wide or passes that went just a bit too far. St. Edward’s would find its footing late in the half and return the favor with pressure of its own.
“We’re a very balanced team. In the wide spaces, those are the areas that when you play a 4-3-3 as St. Ed’s does, they don’t have the players in those positions as balanced as we are,” Clarke said. “And when we’re doing it right, I think you saw a lot of domination at times just in possession.”
The Skyhawks asked a few questions of the Hilltoppers early in the second half, helped in part by a switch that moved Sam Weiss to outside midfield and Brooke Milliet to forward, as suggested by Weiss to Clarke. And the attacking players as a unit proved tough to deal with most of the afternoon.
Megan Striedel had two of FLC’s best chances of the day, with a header off a corner kick skipping off the crossbar in the 53rd minute, followed by a hard, heavy shot ticketed for the upper left-hand corner of the net that was pawed expertly away by St. Edward’s keeper Lorrie Santoy.
In the end, the familiar issue of creating quality chances but not being able to put them away bit the Skyhawks at the worst time, ending the season along with the careers of 10 seniors.
“We were good (Sunday). We just lost,” Clarke said.
rowens @durangoherald.com
