Box Score St. Louis, Mo., September 6, 2014 – Junior Olivia Lillegraven headed in the game-winning goal in the first overtime to lead the No. 2-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team to a 1-0 overtime victory over Rhodes College in the 2014 home opener Saturday afternoon at Francis Field in St. Louis.
The victory for Washington U. gave head coach Jim Colon the 200th win of his career. He is 200-71-14 in 15 seasons as a collegiate women's coach, including a 104-24-9 (.792) in seven seasons on the Danforth Campus.
Washington University outshot Rhodes 33-9 for the game and had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Lillegraven, who leads the team with three goals, headed in a cross from sophomore Lexie Sprague for the game-winner in the 96th minute. The game-winning goal for Lillegraven was her second of the season and sixth of her career.
Washington U. withstood a few opportunities from Rhodes early in the first half, and got its first scoring chance in the 11th minute when Lillegraven's left-footed shot was corralled by Rhodes goalkeeper Chandler Kuhlman. Senior Lillie Toaspern made a great run in the 35th minute but her left-footed shot was just wide left.
Rhodes (2-1) outshot Washington U., 8-7, in the opening half, and nearly took a 1-0 lead just before half in the 41st minute. Hope Elliott corralled a loose ball in the midfield and fired a shot from 25 yards out that sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy Crist deflected over the bar for a corner kick. Crist had two saves in the opening half.
The Bears fired three shots in the opening four minutes of play of the second half, and nearly broke the tie at 47:32 when Toaspern got a point blank shot in the box that Kuhlman saved. The Bears had two great opportunities out of the air in the 60th minute, but Kuhlman deflected a header from junior Abby Starker over the crossbar and senior Kaylin Balley sent a header wide right.
Crist made another phenomenal save in the 65th minute after a point blank shot by Emma Selner on a counter by the Lynx. The shot by Selner was Rhodes' lone opportunity in the second half.
Senior Tessa Klumpp nearly broke the tie for WUSTL in the 70th minute after Toaspern was taken down outside the 18, but her free kick went off the near post and out of bounds. The Bears had one last chance to break the tie with 11 seconds left, but Lillegraven's header went over the crossbar.
Washington U. had a 23-1 shot advantage in the second half.Crist made three saves and she preserved her third shutout of the year. The Bears' defense has yet to allow a goal in 365:42, limiting their opponents to 11 shots on goal in four games.
Washington U. (4-0) concludes a two-game home stand Sunday, Sept. 7, against Benedictine University (Ill.). Game time is set for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast live on the Bear Sports Network at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/wustl/.
Bear Notebook: The Bears have an 19-game unbeaten streak dating back to last season … Washington U. leads the all-time series with Rhodes, 13-1-1, and has won 10-straight meetings between the two teams … The Bears are 43-3-2 in the last three seasons … Washington U. is off to a 4-0 start for the fourth-straight season.
