SAN ANTONIO – Senior
Yvette Franco powered home a 98th minute game-winning goal on Friday night, as the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's soccer team defeated the University of the Incarnate Word on the road. The Corpus Christi native finished off a flick in the box by
Brooke Erdmann to give the Islanders (1-12, 1-5) a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals (3-8-1, 2-4).
"It was a great total team effort victory tonight," head coach
Shanna Caldwell said. "We had great energy from the start and didn't stop. I think the second half we really started to click and put a lot of pressure on their goal. We had several near miss chances throughout the last 45 so as we went into overtime we told the team to just keep the pressure and take chances."
For the third time this season, A&M-Corpus Christi struck first in a match.
Shayla Spearman found the back of the net for her third goal of the season. The Montgomery native received a generous deflection on a cross that sailed close to the goal in the fourth minute.
The Cardinals struggled to break through the Islanders' backline partnership of
Kallyn Redona and
Karla Kedenburg for the next 20 minutes. UIW tied the match on a counterattack in the 23rd minute when Karey Tylman finished a cross off a cross on the back post.
A&M-Corpus Christi responded quickly, earning three corner kicks in a four-minute span.
Hannah Joseph nearly gave the Islanders the lead in the 25th minute, only to see her header cleared off the line by a Cardinal defender.
Jordan Wainwright was called upon to make her first stop of the match in the 40th minute to ensure a 1-1 tie at the halftime break.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair. Both sides enjoyed periods of possession that culminated with a total of four shots on goal split between the two teams. Joseph and
Emma Biba put shots on target in the 62nd and 64th minutes, respectively, but Cardinals backstop Haley Nelson kept the game level.
In the final 10 minutes of regulation, A&M-Corpus Christi set attack after attack on goal. Despite three corner kicks, the Islanders could not find the game-winning goal before extra time. Wainwright was called upon to make a breakaway save with 55 seconds remaining to send the Islanders to their third consecutive overtime match.
The Islanders came out on the front foot in the extra period. Biba forced Nelson into a diving save in the 95th minute, before Wainwright halted a Cardinal counterattack in the 98th minute, setting up Franco's game winner.
Kallyn Redona sent a penetrating ball over the top of the UIW defense. As Nelson charged out of her net,
Brooke Erdmann flicked the ball into Franco's path before taking the brunt of a collision with the goalkeeper. The ball fell to Franco who buried the shot in the back of the empty net for the victory.
"When it was in the air, I couldn't decide whether to head it or just run through it," Franco said. "I just ran through it and went crazy. I didn't know what to but run to coach and cry. I've been searching for a goal since day one this season, and I got it with help from Brooke and Kally."
Caldwell praised the fight and determination of her team, including Erdmann and Franco on the final play.
"Brooke did everything we asked, she committed 100% to the 50/50 ball and took a big hit but was able to get her head on the ball and Yvette was there to put in the back of the net," she added.
The Islanders matched the Cardinals in shots on goal with five, despite being outshot 13-to-10. Joseph set a career high with a trio of attempts.
"It was a big moment for the entire team scoring the winning goal in overtime," Caldwell said. "The back line did their jobs tonight and once again Hannah set the tone in the middle along w Biba and Hamilton in the second half."
LEADING THE WAY
• Franco was held without a goal for the first 13 games of the year, but she made her return to the score sheet in impressive fashion.
•The Corpus Christi native added to her all-time record for goals in a career with 16. • In addition to her assist against Sam Houston State on Sept. 25, Franco now has a program-record 36 points in her career.
UPCOMING MATCHES
The Islanders return to the Dugan Soccer Stadium next Friday night at 7 PM against Northwestern State. Prior to the game, A&M-Corpus Christi will honor
Kallyn Redona,
Audrey Kuhl,
Brooke Erdmann,
Yvette Franco,
Jenna-Kaya Charles,
Hannah Joseph,
Emma Biba and
Mariah Olivé as a part of Senior Night.
On Sunday, the Blue and Green clash with Central Arkansas at 1 PM, a match the Islanders won 2-1 in Conway, Ark., last season.
"This win reaffirms the hard work we are putting in and the strides we are making each game," Caldwell said. "We have to continue to put the work in this week and prepare for two big home games next week. The team is excited to get back to the Jack and feed off the energy from our home crowd."
STAY SOCIAL
For more information on Islanders Soccer, follow the team on Twitter (@IslandersSoccer), Instagram (@IslandersSoccer) and like their Facebook page (Islanders Soccer).
- Go Islanders -
