Northwest Eagles break through for dramatic first win of 2012

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University’s Shea Samuelsen (Bothell, Wash.) lifted a 35 yard shot over the outstretched hands of the Menlo College goalkeeper for the golden goal as the Eagles edged the Oaks in overtime.

Samuelsen scored the game winner, but it was NU goalie, Mariah O’Brien (Gig Harbor, Wash.), who saved the day with her save of a Menlo PK in the 89th minute to preserve the tie in regulation. O’Brien stopped Erika Savela’s blast headed for the lower right corner. Samuelsen’s goal came in the 99th minute just before the game was headed into its second overtime. Northwest almost scored earlier in the OT as Jessica Oliver’s header was saved by Whitney Galindo of Menlo.

NU goalkeeper Mariah O’Brien made a late penalty kick save that kept the Eagles alive for overtime. (Dale Garvey)

Jessica Oliver (North Bend, Wash.) put Northwest into the lead (61:07), 1-0, with her shot off a rebound from 15 yards out. NU held on to the lead until the 78:40 mark when Yasmeen Fuentes put her right foot and a nice pass from Erika Savela on the left side from 7 yards out for Menlo College.

With 88:41 on the clock, Northwest was called for a handball in the penalty area setting up the PK for Savela. As Savela looked to put it past O’Brien in the lower right, O’Brien dove hard knocking the ball away to the delight of her teammates and the fans.

Northwest U. (1-4) out shot Menlo (1-1) 16-8 as Galindo had 7 saves in goal for the Oaks. O’Brien had 4 saves for Northwest. NU had 7 corner kicks to 1 for Menlo College and a total of 34 fouls were called during play.

Northwest U. will host Rocky Mountain College of Billings, Mont., tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. following the NU men who play Menlo’s men at 1 p.m. Menlo’s women will head to Olympia to take on Evergreen.

#9 Jessica Oliver gave the Eagles a 1:0 lead and almost scored again in overtime. (Dale Garvey)

Oliver’s rebound goal in the 62nd minute gave Northwest a 1:0 advantage in a see-saw match that eventually went to overtime. (Dale Garvey)

#18 Shea Samuelsen of Bothell, WA, seen here earlier in the match, scored the overtime winner for the Eagles on Friday in Kirkland. (Dale Garvey)

About these ads