By: Ryan Sosic '19

BEREA, Ohio- The Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer team tied Wittenberg University 1-1 in double overtime on Tressel Field inside Finnie Stadium.

Continuing the mentality from the past two games, BW came out as the aggressor from the start of the game. Through the first 17 minutes, the Yellow Jackets were able to deep into the Tiger defense and attempt seven shots, highlighted by a cross from senior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC forward Rachel Bender (Massillon/Jackson) to sophomore midfielder Kayla Webb (Brunswick) that was saved at the front of the net as well as a shot by sophomore defender Morgan Gray (Dublin/Scioto) that ricocheted off the post. The Jacket defense was disrupting the flow of Wittenberg's offense, not allowing a single shot until the 24th minute of the first half.

On just their second shot attempt at the 31st minute, Wittenberg was able to score the first goal of the game. Sydney Weaver received a pass from Taylor Vaughn-Stanton on a through ball and was able to find the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead. After the Wittenberg score, the Yellow Jackets continued to attack the back of the defense and finished the first half with 12 shots, but to no avail on the scoreboard.

Much of the same continued into the second half until junior midfielder Kenna Poptic (Dublin/Jerome) blocked a shot by Emily Wile off a corner attempt from Sydney Artis deep in the box. Just 30 seconds later, sophomore midfielder Alex Guido (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower) crossed the ball to the middle of the field and found Bender, who was able to place the ball past the goalie and into the left side of the net for her first goal of the season. With 2 minutes left in the game, Bender found herself on a breakaway and was unable to connect on a game-winning goal after it was wide left, sending the game into overtime at a score of 1-1.

BW put together the first scoring opportunity in overtime at the 92nd minute after Bender tried a cross intended for Guido. Wittenberg's only chance on goal was saved by junior goal keeper Sophia Weidner (Medina) at the 98th minute.

Wittenberg stepped up their attack in the second overtime and put a great deal of pressure on the Yellow Jacket defense late into the game, but was unavailable to capitalize on their opportunities and forced the game to a 1-1 draw.

BW will head out on the road for their next game to play Frostburg St. (Md.) on Saturday, September 15 at 2 p.m.