Women's Soccer Plays to Third Consecutive Draw, 0-0

USAFA, Colo. – The Air Force Academy women's soccer team played to yet another scoreless draw, this time in the non-conference finale against Gonzaga University Sunday afternoon, Sept. 16, at Cadet Soccer Stadium. It is the third tie in a row for the Falcons (1-2-3), marking the first time in program history they have tied three consecutive matches.

"I'm was really proud of the effort from Jennifer and the rest of the senior class today," Head Coach Larry Friend said. "All of them stepped up and did a phenomenal job in the game for us."

Senior goalie Jennifer Hiddink was brilliant again in net, earning her second shutout of the season and 11^th of her career moving her into a tie for third place in the Academy's all-time shutout list. Overall on the afternoon, the Wylie, Texas native made nine saves to up her season total to 48, and her career tally 293, putting her into solo third place in all-time saves at Air Force.

Offensively, the Falcons took nine shots, with only one coming on net. The Bulldogs (4-2-2) controlled a majority of the offensive possessions, as they out-shot the Falcons, 13-9, including 9-1 in SOG's, and an 11-3 advantage on corner kicks.

"Hats off to Coach Watkins and the entire Gonzaga staff, they came out in a 4-3-3 and really took it to us," Friend remarked. "That was probably the hardest earned tie that we've had to get this year.

The first half was all Zags as they out-shot the Falcons 9-1, including an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Hiddink was nails over the first 45, keeping it scoreless with six saves, to place her into third all-time in program saves. With her heroics, the score remained deadlocked at zero after one.

The second half started just as slow for both sides, with neither team getting a look on net until over ten minutes in. In the 72^nd minutes, Gonzaga had a clear look on goal, but Hiddink, who was lying flat on the ground after trying to play the ball out, saved the shot which came right to her hands to keep it 0-0.

From there, both sides had a couple chances, but nothing too threatening as the match went to the first overtime. Air Force actually ended up out-shooting Gonzaga by a 7-3 margin in the second half.

In the first OT, both sides remained in a defensive struggle, as both were held without a shot over the 10 minutes. In the second OT, it was more of the same with both teams feeling the effects of the heat. The Zags and Falcons both got one shot each, but neither dangerous, as the game ended in the scoreless draw.

The Falcons return to the pitch next Friday, Sept. 21, when they open Mountain West Conference play at home against Fresno State University. Start time against the Bulldogs is set for 6 p.m.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.