MILLIGAN, Tenn. — WVU Tech women's soccer rallied from a two-goal deficit, answered another Milligan lead in the second half and scored the game-winner in the 86th minute to earn a 4-3 road victory Tuesday evening. The Golden Bears moved to 2-1 with their second straight win.
Milligan struck first when Natalie Roper scored in the ninth minute, then doubled its lead on a Selma Salimi goal at 28:30. WVU Tech needed just 18 seconds to respond. Sophomore Rocío Gutiérrez found the back of the net off a pass from freshman Addison Burt at 28:48, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Burt brought the Golden Bears all the way back before halftime. After entering in the 23rd minute, she scored at 36:24 to tie the match at 2-2. Tech went into the break even after outshooting Milligan 8-6 and earning five corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes.
The Golden Bears nearly took their first lead less than two minutes into the second half when Korinne Potter hit the post. Milligan instead moved back in front at 62:16 on a Halle Steele goal, leaving Tech to chase the match for a second time.
Again, WVU Tech answered. Gutiérrez scored her second goal of the night at 78:20, finishing off an assist from junior Julia Silva to pull the Golden Bears even at 3-3. The goal gave Gutiérrez three through the first three matches of the season.
Freshman Shiloh Goodwin completed the comeback in the 86th minute, scoring at 85:28 to put Tech in front for the first time. The Golden Bears held the lead over the final four-plus minutes to secure the 4-3 victory.
Gutiérrez led WVU Tech with seven shots, putting three on goal and scoring twice. Goodwin put all three of her shots on goal and scored the game-winner, while Burt finished with a goal and an assist. Silva recorded five shots and added an assist on the tying goal.
Tech generated a season-high 23 shots, including 15 after halftime, and finished with an 8-7 edge in shots on goal. The Golden Bears also held an 8-4 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman goalkeeper Irene Saldaña made four saves over 90 minutes.
WVU Tech is now 2-1 overall and has won two straight after opening the season at Northwestern Ohio. Through three matches, the Golden Bears have scored seven goals on 38 shots, putting 16 on frame.
What's next
WVU Tech continues its road stretch Friday, Sept. 4, when the Golden Bears travel to Savannah, Georgia, to face SCAD-Savannah. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Season leaders
- Record: 2-1
- Goals: Rocío Gutiérrez, 3; Sarah Dasilva, 1; Julia Silva, 1; Addison Burt, 1; Shiloh Goodwin, 1
- Assists: Addison Burt, 1; Julia Silva, 1
- Shots: Rocío Gutiérrez, 10; Julia Silva, 10; Korinne Potter, 4
- Shots on goal: Rocío Gutiérrez, 5; Julia Silva, 4; Shiloh Goodwin, 3
- Goalkeeper saves: Irene Saldaña, 12
