Thursday, September 13
USAFA
6:05 p.m.
Air Force Academy
1-2-2
2
vs
2
Houston
4-4-1
1
2
OT 3
OT 4
F
Houston
1
1
0
0
2
Air Force
2
0
0
0
2
Photo by: Dave Speer
Falcons Play Houston to 2-2 Draw
9/13/2018 9:37:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Seniors Taylor Cobb and Kaitlyn Cook scored their first goals of the season
USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy women's soccer team played to a tough 2-2 draw against the University of Houston Friday evening, Sept. 13, at Cadet Soccer Stadium. The Falcons (1-2-2) had a good chance to come out victorious in the match, as Houston's first goal was an own goal.
"Both teams gave it a heck of a lot of effort, it could have gone either way" Head Coach Larry Friend remarked. "All in all it was a good team effort. It would have been good to get a W out of that, but a lot of respect goes to Houston and the effort they played. They were fun to play against, it was a fun brand of soccer."
Air Force's offense kept pace with the high-powered Cougar (4-4-1) attack, as they out-shot UH, 17-16. The Falcons also kept the ball in the offensive third more than Houston, as they had more corner kicks, 11-6.
A pair of seniors led the scoring, as forwards Taylor Cobb and Kaitlyn Cook each scored the first goals of their respective seasons. Freshman defender Keelyn Osoba assisted on the Cobb tally, while Cook's came on a penalty kick. Cobb's goal was the fifth of her Falcon career, while Cook's was her sixth.
In net, senior goalie Jennifer Hiddink made nine saves to up her total to 39 on the season and 284 for her career, putting her three behind for third place on the all-time Falcon saves list.
Both teams got a couple of opportunities in the first 15 minutes, but neither had any great scoring chances. Air Force got their first good opportunity in the 15th minute as freshman midfielder Eve Schoenrock got a head on a corner kick, but it was saved.
About 10 minutes later, the Falcons broke the ice when a free ball in the box was headed in by Cobb for her first goal of the season. Unfortunately, five minutes later, a Houston corner was accidently headed in by an Air Force player to knot it up at one.
Neither team got much on offense until the final five minutes when, on a fancy move in the box from freshman midfielder Mackenzie Kimmel, she was tackled by the Cougar defender, setting up a penalty kick. Cook took the set piece and buried it in the bottom right corner to put Air Force back up, 2-1, going into halftime.
In the second half, Air Force went to work trying to protect its one-goal lead. The Falcons defense and Hiddink fended off five Houston shots over the first 30 minutes of action, keeping the lead. Air Force actually had a great chance in the 66th minute, as a cross in the box appeared to be headed in for a goal, but a hand ball was ruled after referee deliberation, keeping the score as is. In the 75th minute, Houston got a two-on-one break away and made the most of it, scoring the tying goal with 15 minutes to play.
From there, both teams had some chances but nothing solid on net as the match went to overtime. In the first OT, Kimmel led off the period with a golden opportunity, but the shot sailed high. Houston countered, but Hiddink was there with a save. Both sides notched a few more shots the rest of the way, but the match quickly went to the second overtime.
There, both teams were gassed, but continued to try and get the golden goal. Air Force had a couple of shot on net, while the Falcon defense held the Cougars without a try on net, but neither were able to break the draw, ending the match at 2-2.
The Blue and Silver return to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 16, when they host Gonzaga University. Start time is set for 1:30 p.m., but will depend on the men's soccer game, which starts at 11 a.m.
"Both teams gave it a heck of a lot of effort, it could have gone either way" Head Coach Larry Friend remarked. "All in all it was a good team effort. It would have been good to get a W out of that, but a lot of respect goes to Houston and the effort they played. They were fun to play against, it was a fun brand of soccer."
Air Force's offense kept pace with the high-powered Cougar (4-4-1) attack, as they out-shot UH, 17-16. The Falcons also kept the ball in the offensive third more than Houston, as they had more corner kicks, 11-6.
A pair of seniors led the scoring, as forwards Taylor Cobb and Kaitlyn Cook each scored the first goals of their respective seasons. Freshman defender Keelyn Osoba assisted on the Cobb tally, while Cook's came on a penalty kick. Cobb's goal was the fifth of her Falcon career, while Cook's was her sixth.
In net, senior goalie Jennifer Hiddink made nine saves to up her total to 39 on the season and 284 for her career, putting her three behind for third place on the all-time Falcon saves list.
Both teams got a couple of opportunities in the first 15 minutes, but neither had any great scoring chances. Air Force got their first good opportunity in the 15th minute as freshman midfielder Eve Schoenrock got a head on a corner kick, but it was saved.
About 10 minutes later, the Falcons broke the ice when a free ball in the box was headed in by Cobb for her first goal of the season. Unfortunately, five minutes later, a Houston corner was accidently headed in by an Air Force player to knot it up at one.
Neither team got much on offense until the final five minutes when, on a fancy move in the box from freshman midfielder Mackenzie Kimmel, she was tackled by the Cougar defender, setting up a penalty kick. Cook took the set piece and buried it in the bottom right corner to put Air Force back up, 2-1, going into halftime.
In the second half, Air Force went to work trying to protect its one-goal lead. The Falcons defense and Hiddink fended off five Houston shots over the first 30 minutes of action, keeping the lead. Air Force actually had a great chance in the 66th minute, as a cross in the box appeared to be headed in for a goal, but a hand ball was ruled after referee deliberation, keeping the score as is. In the 75th minute, Houston got a two-on-one break away and made the most of it, scoring the tying goal with 15 minutes to play.
From there, both teams had some chances but nothing solid on net as the match went to overtime. In the first OT, Kimmel led off the period with a golden opportunity, but the shot sailed high. Houston countered, but Hiddink was there with a save. Both sides notched a few more shots the rest of the way, but the match quickly went to the second overtime.
There, both teams were gassed, but continued to try and get the golden goal. Air Force had a couple of shot on net, while the Falcon defense held the Cougars without a try on net, but neither were able to break the draw, ending the match at 2-2.
The Blue and Silver return to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 16, when they host Gonzaga University. Start time is set for 1:30 p.m., but will depend on the men's soccer game, which starts at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
HOU
AF
Goals
2
2
Shots
16
17
Shots on Goal
11
7
Saves
5
9
Corners
6
11
Fouls
7
9
Scoring Plays
COBB, Taylor (1)
Assisted By: OSOBA, Keelyn
header off a ball in the box
23:24
TEAM
GOAL by HOU OWN GOAL.
28:37
COOK, Kaitlyn (1)
AF COOK, Kaitlyn PENALTY KICK GOAL, goal number 1 for season.
40:21
Anderson, NATALIE (1)
Assisted By: Grant, JAZMIN
GOAL by HOU Anderson, NATALIE, Assist by Grant, JAZMIN, goal number 1 for season.
74:25
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerD
/ Women's Soccer
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