ASHLEY KANDA
Scores Game-Winner In Final
Career Match
Scores Game-Winner In Final
Career Match
Kandas Make The Most Of Their Final Match
The twin sister tandem of Ashley and Lauren Kanda made the most of their final match, scoring both goals as the Boxers closed the 2009 women's soccer season with a 2-1 overtime victory over Willamette
FOREST GROVE – The twin sister tandem of Ashley Kanda and Lauren Kanda (Jr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) made the most of their final games in a Pacific uniform Saturday, scoring both goals as the Boxers scored a 2-1 overtime victory over Willamette in both teams’ Northwest Conference women’s soccer season finale at Lincoln Park Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 after Emily Wigington opened scoring for the Bearcats in the 72nd minute, Lauren Kanda tied things with her sixth goal of the season in the 81st minute. Things stayed tied through the end of regulation before Ashley Kanda connected for the game-winner in the 92nd minute, scoring off of an assist by Lauren Kanda.
Both teams persevered through driving rain and wind to get in the match. The start of the second half was delayed 50 minutes because of lightning and potential thunderstorms. Willamette outshot Pacific 20-19 and had a 10-8 advantage in shots on goal. Pacific had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
After a scoreless first half, Wigington broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute, finishing an offensive push that began on a Stephanie Skelly corner kick in the 71st. Willamette moved the ball around in the box until Wigington got it just above the penalty area and sent a line drive into the lower left corner for her second goal of the season.
Lauren Kanda scored the equalizer on her own in the 81st minute. Kanda drove past a pair of Willamette defenders from just beyond midfield, creating on open lane to the goal on the right hand side. She punched the ball from five yards out into the central part of the goal for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Ashley Kanda needed just 73 seconds to score the game-winner and snap the Boxers’ two-match losing skid. Lauren Kanda started the play with a cross across the box to Ashley Kanda, who connected to the right corner of the box for her fifth goal of the season.
Brittany Hartmann (Fr., Portland, Ore.) finished with nine saves in the victory. Willamette starting goalkeeper Kelli Gano finished with five saves in the first 45 minutes of play. Reserve Jill Schneeman made one save in the final 47 minutes and was collared for the loss.
With the victory, Pacific finishes the year at 7-10-3, 6-8-2 NWC. Willamette closed the year at 9-9-2, 8-7-1 NWC. Prior to the match, Pacific honored four seniors who played their final matches in red and black. In addition to the Kanda sisters, the Boxers honored Becca Roth (Sr., Rainier, Ore.) and Cheryl Yasumoto (Sr., Waipio, Hawaii).
Posted by Blake Timm (timmbr@pacificu.edu) on Nov 7, 2009 at 3:41 PM
