Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - On the strength of its captains, the American International College women's soccer team overcame two one-goal deficits to draw Caldwell University 2-2 in a nonconference contest on Wednesday, October 15.
AIC is now 2-6-2 on the season.
The Cougars were able to strike first as Rosio Cardenas took a cross pass from the right side at the top of the 18. She was able to spin left past a defender before firing back across to the bottom right corner of the net for the tally at 12:10.
Down early, AIC pushed back, taking control of the field. Their aggressive play paid off, as co-captain
Alyssa Stetson's pressure forced a rushed clearing attempt deep in Cougars territory, and the graduate student deflected it right to
Lily Shields. The senior captain blasted the ball into the left corner of the cage for her second of the season at 21:49.
The score held that way through halftime, but in the second half the Cougars struck again. On a corner kick, Isabella Noble put the ball brilliantly to the back post for a header by Alexa Peto at 59:24.
Trailing again, the Yellow Jackets turned up their play and put more pressure on Caldwell's defense. It paid dividends in terms of chances, and Stetson nearly drew the game level again with a shot that clanked off the crossbar. However, that turned out to just be the opening salvo for a successful attack, as
Ella Boughner grabbed the rebound at the right side of the box and crossed it back in. In the chaos, senior captain
Ava Boldi had charged into the middle, and she knocked the loose ball home at 74:19 for the first goal of her collegiate career.
Both teams played to win over the final 15 minutes, and chances abounded; AIC hit another post on a Juliana Magalhaes shot, and the Cougars had a breakaway by Taina Gervais denied by
Sara Avery as well as a chance swept away by
Elena Nunez on the defense. In the end, Boldi's goal was the last one in the tie.
AIC returns to Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, October 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Michael's College.
