LAMONI, Iowa– Claire Struble (JR/Murrieta, Calif.)’s 86th-minute goal broke a 1-1 tie and gave the University of Jamestown women’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over Graceland University Saturday evening.
Graceland (0-1) took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on a goal from Leonie Boulanger-Tremblay. Makenzie Fuller’s initial shot was saved by Alex Nowka (SO/Anchorage, Alaska), but Boulanger-Tremblay emerged with the ball after a gathering of players in front of the net and put the ball into the upper-left corner for the score.
The Jimmies didn’t trail for long. Kirstyn Aldridge (SR/Williamsburg, Va.) found the equalizer in the 27th minute, sending a booming shot into the upper right corner of the net to make it 1-1.
First-half shots were nearly even, with Graceland holding a 10-8 edge. However, Graceland had an 8-3 advantage in shots on goal.
Early In the second half, shots by Aldridge and Eve Hoppe (FR/Temecula, Calif.) were cast aside. Struble had shots in the 74th and 80th minutes stopped by Jazmean Lopez, and it looked as if the Jimmies would be unable to find the go-ahead tally.
The third time proved to be a charm for Struble, as she took a pass from Kamryn Fiscus (SO/Yakima, Wash.) just over the midfield stripe and drove towards goal. Struble maneuvered to get Lopez out of position, and put the ball in the back of the net.
Both teams finished with 13 shots. Graceland had 10 on goal and UJ 8.
Nowka had nine saves for Jamestown (1-0), who face William Penn (Iowa) University Sunday at 4 p.m.
