'Dogs and Hornets draw in double overtime match, 2-2

Friday, August 24

Fresno, Calif.

7 P.M. PT

Fresno State

1-1

Sacramento State

0-2

OT 3

OT 4

Sacramento State

Fresno State

'Dogs and Hornets draw in double overtime match, 2-2

8/25/2018 12:10:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Taylor Martinez / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State women's soccer team's match against Sacramento State ended in a 2-2 double overtime draw, the Bulldogs first draw of the season. Melissa Ellis and Tori Nicolo led Fresno State's offense with one goal apiece.

"I was really happy that we were resilient," said head coach Brian Zwaschka. "We knew we had to dig it out. This was our first overtime game and their third, so maybe they had a little more experience with that but the fact that we stayed stable was really important. We need to work on some composure in the box because it felt like our ability to get in the box was good, but finishing our chances is what we really need to work on. Balls were just slow rolling across, waiting for somebody to tap them in. We weren't quite there so those are things that we are going to have to look at. These are opportunities we will have to look at for every game."

The Bulldogs are 1-1-1 this season, 0-0-1 at home. The 'Dogs drew a large crowd for their first home match of the season.

"It was an awesome atmosphere for our home opener," said Zwaschka. "I am glad that we got on the board so they could celebrate and see that. The game had a really high energy all night and I have no doubt that everybody here was satisfied."

FIRST HALF
Nicolo, Ellis, Megan Amick, Alyssa Nishikawa, Kayla King, Ele Avery, Maria Gomez, Robyn McCarthy, Emma Chivers and Danielle Pacheco led the charge for the 'Dogs, with Marie Berwinkel-Kottmann in the goal.

Both offenses attacked off the start off the clock, taking shots within the first two minutes of the game.

The 'Dogs got their offense flowing when Ellis took a shot that was blocked, leading to a corner kick for Fresno State in the 31^st minute.

Sacramento State would respond with a goal in the 41^st minute, Caitlin Prothe scored a header off a cross for the Hornets to put them up 1-0.

At the half, Sacramento State owned a 1-0 lead. Both teams had four shots, one corner kick and zero saves.

SECOND HALF
Right out of the huddle, Ellis evened the match 1-1 when she scored a header off a cross from Gomez in the 48^th minute. The 'Dogs shot back-to-back shots on goal to try to take the lead, but the Hornets played tough defense.

Fresno State conceded an own goal in the 73^rd minute when the ball bounced off the goalie's back, putting Sacramento State up 2-1.

The 'Dogs scored the equalizer in the 77^th minute with an iconic play from Nicolo and Chloe Chedester. Chedester used a flip-throw to inbound the ball, Nicolo flew in to strike the ball on its way down to score for Fresno State.

90 minutes of regulation would end with the score tied, 2-2.

In the second half, the Hornets owned the advantage in shots (12-8) and corner kicks (3-0). Fresno State grabbed more saves, 3-2.

OVERTIME
Fresno State looked to maintain its offensive momentum in the first overtime game of the season. Nishikawa had a blocked shot in the 93^rd minute, leading to a Fresno State corner kick. The 'Dogs would take one more shot in the 98^th minute, but it was wide.

The match went into double overtime with the score still 2-2.

DOUBLE OVERTIME
Sacramento State attacked first with a shot on goal in the 103^rd minute. Fresno State took the last shot of the match, Amick fired a shot on goal in the 110^th minute, the Hornets goalie was there for the save.

Time expired with the scoreboard reading 2-2.

NOTABLE STATS

Sacramento State owned the advantage in shots (20-15) and corner kicks (4-2).
Fresno State grabbed more saves, 6-3.
Tori Nicolo scored her third goal of the season, averaging 1.00 goals per game.
Melissa Ellis scored her first goal of the season.
Maria Gomez recorded her first assist of the season.
Chloe Chedester recorded her first collegiate assist.

WHAT'S NEXT
Fresno State will hit the road for back-to-back home games, facing UC Riverside on August 31 and CSU Fullerton on September 2. The Bulldogs will return home on Thursday, September 6 to host UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. PT.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" - The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.