Beavers Top Toreros on Golden Goal by Faris
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State women's soccer team completed a perfect weekend and its nonconference schedule on Sunday with a 2-1 overtime win over San Diego at Paul Lorenz Field.
Junior Nikki Farris scored the golden goal at 97:07 as the Beavers (5-2-2) overcame a 1-0 deficit with two goals in the final 22 minutes. They improved to 2-1-2 in overtime games; their other OT win came at Michigan State on Sept. 9.
Senior Helene Haavik – who, coincidentally, scored the golden goal in the victory over the Spartans – started the decisive play with crossing pass from the left side to junior Natalie Higgins. She threaded a back-heel pass to Faris, who drilled a left-footed shot just inside the right post for her third goal of the season.
"I got a great ball from Natalie, then I just turned and took a quick shot," Faris said in describing the game-winner. "I had a good look at it; I turned and tried to get [the shot] low into the corner and I managed to do that. I've done a lot of left-footed work since I moved to the left side," and it paid off on Sunday.
Faris and Higgins also figured in OSU's first goal, in reverse order, which tied the game 1-1 at 75:00. Faris took the ball to the timeline and then cross it to the oncoming Higgins, who drove a left-footed shot past USD keeper Amber Michel for her fourth goal of the season and her second tally of the weekend.
USD had gone ahead 1-0 at 55:55, and OSU had an apparent tying goal negated by an offside several minutes later. But the Beavers kept grinding and were eventually rewarded with the tying and winning goals.
"That's a big thing we've worked on" in the past three seasons, Faris said. "We started out really young my freshman year; now being able to finish off those games instead of losing our ground," shows the progress made since that winless 2014 campaign.
The Beavers also answered a challenge from coach Linus Rhode, issued after a 2-1 win over Portland on Friday night, to win twice in a single weekend. The Beavers were 0-for-3 in such opportunities prior to Sunday.
"Coming off our win over Michigan State, we didn't have a good Sunday game," in a 2-1, overtime loss at Eastern Michigan. "Our goal this weekend was to come back strong after the Friday game and just continue it on and get a win on Sunday."
The Beavers open Pacific-12 Conference play at California at 3 p.m., Thursday and will be televised by Pac-12 Networks. Their Pac-12 home opener is set for Sept. 29 vs. UCLA.
For more information on the Oregon State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at @BeaverWSoccer or its Facebook page at BeaverWSoccer
OREGON STATE ATHLETICS' EVERYDAY CHAMPIONS CULTURE
Through the power of sport, we help people discover and pursue their passions, talents and purpose in order to live a life of balance and positive contribution.
Trending Videos
Headlines
- Recruiting Roundup: November 18-24
- Tracking Division I Coaching Changes
- Men's NCAA Tournament First Round Recap
- TeamRank Presented By TeamSnap - Boys
- Commitments: Pulled to Pittsburgh
- ECNL Girls Ohio Valley Players to Watch
- Top Men's Second Round Pro Prospects
- Midwest High School Roundup - Nov.
- Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13
- Women's DI Tournament Round Two Preview