Final Minute Goal Grounds Pilots

(WINNIPEG) – Jade Lopez converted from two second half cornerkicks, including her 92^nd minute match-winner as USB halted Providence’s quest for a sixth consecutive victory, edging the Pilots 3-2 in MCAC women’s soccer action on Saturday afternoon.

The Pilots came to play and carried the majority of chances and possession through the match, but it was the host Rouges that opened the scoring. After a series of Providence chances misfired at the USB end, the Rouges countered with Stephanie Jones firing home past Bella Geith (Winnipeg, MB) in the 23^rd minute.

The visitors came close to equalizing 10 minutes before halftime when Pilots’ midfielder Ava Temple (Yarrow, BC) sent Mack Cheys (Winnipeg, MB) in with a clear path to goal. Cheys managed to keep control under pressure but just as the rookie striker moved to shoot, she was met by a charging Alexi Gagnon. The veteran USB backstop claimed ball and player, making the critical save to keep her team on top as the rivals headed into halftime.

The Pilots challenge doubled shortly after the restart. Jade Lopez capitalized from a USB cornerkick in the 48^th minute, putting the Rouges up by two goals.

Providence finally got their breakthrough in the 79^th minute. Resulting from a Pilots’ cornerkick, rookie midfielder, Christian Reimer (Winnipeg, MB) reacted to rise and volley in her second MCAC goal after Providence first attempt bounced back off the goal post.

Serena Negrich (Burnaby, BC) evened the game five minutes later when she lunged to poke in the game’s equalizer past Gagnon after Temple nudged the ball free to the rookie striker.

Just as it appeared clear that the match would not produce a winning team, the hosts managed to create a last-gasp cornerkick deep into stoppage time. Unable to clear, Lopez pounced to score her second of the match, sinking the Pilots and lifting USB to a 3-2 victory and a grandstand finish.

Providence outshot the Rouges 17-6 and won 8 cornerkicks to USB’s 3 through 90 minutes. Entering today’s match as the #11 ranked CCAA program in the nation, the Pilots loss comes as their first since September 17.