CC Holds On Against North Texas

October 6, 2013

Other than the outcome, there was nothing normal about Colorado College's 3-2 victory over North Texas on Sunday.

Playing in postcard-perfect conditions at home for the first time this season, the Tigers struck for three first-half goals, but then had to withstand a determined comeback by the Mean Green.

Sophomore midfielder Sarah Schweiss put CC on the board just 12:44 into the game when she one-timed a pin-point cross from junior midfielder Kaeli Vandersluis, who extended her career-best point streak to seven games. It marked the ninth time in 10 outings that the Tigers struck for the first goal of a game.

A little less than 10 minutes later, junior midfielder Jessie Ayers gave Colorado College a two-goal lead when she knocked in the rebound of a shot by Schweiss off the right post.

With 17 career goals, Ayers moved into a tie for 18th place on CC's all-time list. She also climbed into a tie for 28th with 39 career points.

The Tigers appeared to be in complete control when senior defender Sarah Haizlip scored her first career goal on a shot from 45 yards away on the right side that found the upper left corner.

The three-goal lead lasted a total of 17 seconds.

Vanessa Ibewuike took the kickoff, dribbled toward the box and scored for North Texas with a shot to the upper left corner from 30 yards out.

The goal snapped sophomore Kate Scheele's scoreless streak that had reached 591:10, and was the first allowed by the CC defense since Sept. 7 at Marquette.

Colorado College generated several opportunities to build on its two-goal lead during the second half, the best of which was a direct kick by Vandersluis from 20 yards that went just over the crossbar.

Scheele kept the score 3-1 when she tipped a direct kick by Kelsey Hodges over the frame in the 65th minute, but North Texas cut its deficit in half with 12:36 to play when Leah Cox headed another direct kick by Hodges into the top left corner.

The Tigers finished with a 17-10 advantage in total shots, while the Mean Green had a 6-5 edge in corner kicks.

Scheele finished with five saves for CC, which improved to 9-3-0 overall with its seventh consecutive victory. The Tigers maintained their hold on first place in the West Division of Conference USA with a 4-0-0 mark.

Haley Riley stopped three shots for North Texas, which slipped to 7-5-1 overall and 1-2-1 in league play.

Colorado College returns to action next Saturday when the University of Tulsa visits Stewart Field at 11 a.m.