Iowa Western edges Schoolcraft in Pool D game
Iowa Western Community College held off Schoolcraft College in a Pool D game in the NJCAA Division I Women's Soccer National Championship Tournament.
The No. 9 seed Reivers scored three times in just over two minutes in the first half to take a 3-1 lead but Schoolcraft College battled back to tie it up 3-3 in the second half.
"I think we did really well to get the first goal and that mental lapse there let them right back in and then a really bad, bad 5 to 10-minute spell for us which kind of cost us," Schoolcraft College women's soccer coach Joe Carver said.
But in the end Schoolcraft could not contain Laura Chavez who scored four goals in the game, including the final two for the Reivers who secured the 5-4 win.
"She was fantastic, she did what Laura does and we are not surprised by it. She is a really talented, very unique player," Iowa Western head coach Adam Sanchez said.
Schoolcraft's Jamila Thombs opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a nice shot from the right side. Less than a minute later Chavez tied it up 1-1 as she broke through the defense and slid it past the goalkeeper.
It was the first of three straight goals for Iowa Western in the next couple of minutes as Ashley Overberg and Chavez scored to take the lead.
Jenna Smith and Thombs would score to tie the game 3-3, but once again Iowa Western responded as Chavez scored in the 70th minute and then in the 81st minute on a penalty kick.
Schoolcraft did not give up and with two minutes left it looked like they had cut the lead to one on a shot from way outside the box. But with under a minute left, Sophia Shumylo did cut the lead to one with a nice strike from outside the box.
Iowa Western is 1-1 in Pool D while Schoolcraft College will play host Eastern Florida State College at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Titans beat Iowa Western 4-0 on Monday night.
"Mathematically possible, but very, very tough to play the hosts who had a very, very confident game on Monday," Carver said. "Big task but not impossible. It has been done before and that is part of the beautiful game. We will see if we can do it."
