Late Goal Gives Bulldogs Tie with Canisius

September 24, 2013

Charleston, S.C. – Mariana Garcia drilled a shot into the top of the net with 54 seconds remaining in regulation, and neither team scored in the two overtime periods as The Citadel and Canisius played to a 1-1 tie in a women's soccer contest Sunday at WLI Field.

The Bulldogs (1-2-1) trailed since the final minute of the first half before Garcia took a pass from Jillian Meyer, dribbled through the Canisius (1-3-1) defense and fired a bullet over the head of Golden Griffin goalkeeper Megan Tock for her fourth goal of the season.

Garcia was coming off her first career hat trick in a 3-1 win over Jacksonville State on Friday. The senior extended her school career records to 35 goals and 75 points, and she is the active leader in the Southern Conference in both categories.

Canisius took a 1-0 lead with just 1:02 left in the opening half when Brianna Smith scored her fourth goal of the year off an assist by Callie Good. The Citadel peppered the Golden Griffin goal with 15 shots without scoring in the second half before Garcia knotted it up.

"Both teams worked so hard in brutal conditions," Bulldog head coach Bob Winch said of the heat and humidity that took its toll on both teams throughout the game. "Our goal will be mentioned several times throughout the season. We persevered today."

The Bulldogs finished with a 27-19 advantage in shots and created eight corner kicks to none for Canisius. Garcia finished with eight shots and Ruth Leiva added six, including four on goal.

Tock and Citadel goalkeeper Naomi Carter both had nine saves in their 110 minutes of action.

The Bulldogs are off until next Sunday when they wrap up their three-game homestand with a 2 p.m. game against Charleston Southern at WLI Field.