Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Mississippi
Bulldogs End Rebels? Insurrection
9/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 19, 1999
Stockton - The lyrics "well, I guess this is growing up" from Blink 182?s hit song, Damn it, rocked down from the speakers at Stagg Memorial Stadium Sunday morning as the Fresno State women?s soccer team walked off the field with a 2-1 victory over Ole Miss in the Pacific Collegiate Soccer Showcase.
The victory ends a grueling early season where the Bulldogs (6-3) saw action on both coasts, but managed to turn last week?s disappointing 2-2 record into an impressive 6-3 mark nine days later.
With shaky play plaguing much of the first half due to the 9 a.m. start, the Bulldogs drew first blood with Jill Pearson finding an empty net on a 40-yard blast from the right side.
"I sent the ball down the right flank to Morgan [Oliveira]," Pearson said. "Their keeper got it and when [Oliveira] challenged, the keeper got frantic and kicked it back. It came right to me, and I hit one off my laces to find net."
Both teams settled down later in the half as play raced between the two boxes. Neither keeper was challenged until Pearson believed she recorded her second goal on the day in the 30th minute. Oliveria served the ball into play on a free kick to Andrea Morelock, who in turn headed the ball to Pearson. While Pearson?s shot did find net, the side judge found Pearson offsides upsetting the numerous Bulldog fans in attendance.
During the second half, midfielders Aimee Thompson and Jessica Peisch pressed the Bulldog attack to no avail as Rebel keeper Melinda Smith recorded three dramatic saves to keep Ole Miss in the match.
But the Rebels managed to muster some offense of their own and penetrated the Fresno State defense late in the game when Amaris Weeks cashed in a cross from Sara Schauberger to beat ?Dog keeper Jennifer Johnstone at 73:11.
Now tied at 1-1 Bulldog head coach Peter Reynaud, who replaced his frontline five minutes earlier, quickly reinserted his starters back into play. Oliveira returned with a vengeance, pressing the Rebel defense to the breaking point. In the 78th minute, Pearson crossed to Oliveira on the break who quickly set and fired on goal. Smith caught the ball easily to save the Rebels. But moments later Oliveira was back at it, this time off a serve from Kristen Dunlap. Smith, again, sent the ?Dogs back on defense when she saved Oliveira?s shot to the right side.
But a third was the charm for the Lemoore native and the Bulldogs. The Fresno State attack worked its way to the right side through Reyna Green. Green freed herself to fire a cross to a charging Oliveira, who slid for her shot that found net on the left side at 83:12 to clinch the win for the Bulldogs.
"Morgan has really stepped up her game in the past four games," Reynaud said. "We could always feel that it was coming, but you never know. She?s turned into quite a good goal scorer for us."
With their third-consecutive win, the Bulldogs are pleased to return to Fresno for a week of classes and practice, but Reynaud knows just how valuable the past week has been for his squad which might have not won this game if played last week.
"I have always had faith in these players," Reynaud said. "We started this season a little soft, but over the past week they have proven to be a bunch of fighters who will battle and scrape in spite the fatigue from the road. We?re going to be ok."
The Bulldogs will see their next action Sunday, September 26 versus Long Beach State at 3 p.m.
