Box Score The Case Western Reserve University women's soccer team battled the sixth-ranked Washington University (Mo.) Bears throughout the afternoon on Sunday, but a long-range 'golden goal' by Katie Chandler with just under three minutes remaining in the second overtime period handed the Spartans a 1-0 setback in St. Louis, Missouri.
The loss came despite a stellar effort by CWRU senior goalkeeper Megan Romelfanger, who faced 26 shots and made eight saves during the game, including a number of key stops late in the contest. However, Chandler's shot from 30-yards out with 2:41 left to play proved to be the one unstoppable attempt on the day for the Bears, sailing just over Romelfanger's reach and into the net for the deciding score.
The goal was the fifth of the season for Chandler, and her second 'golden goal' of the weekend.
It took some heroics by Romelfanger to stretch the game into overtime against Wash U. The Bears were awarded a penalty kick after a foul was charged against CWRU just inside the 18-yard box with 4:32 left to play in regulation. However, Romelfanger was able to preserve the scoreless tie with a diving save to her right on the penalty kick by Olivia Lillegraven.
In the first overtime, Romelfanger made another key save off a header from Sam Ezratty following a long free kick into the box to keep the contest knotted.
Wash U. finished the game with a 27-10 edge on shots, although the shots-on-goal differential was considerably closer, with the Bears putting nine on target, and the Spartans four. Senior Makenzie Best and sophomore Elle Zadina each had a pair of shots on goal during Sunday's game.
The loss dropped the Spartans overall record to 7-6-4, including a 0-5-1 UAA record. It was CWRU's first loss of the season through three games to a team ranked in the top-10 nationally at the time of the game, after the squad had tied then-#8 Thomas More, 0-0, and defeated then-#8 Denison, 1-0.
The Bears improved to 15-2-0 overall with the win, with a 5-1-0 UAA record.
The Spartans will return home to Cleveland for their final game of the regular season, facing third-ranked Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, November 7th at 5:00 p.m. Prior to Saturday's game, the team will honor its seven graduating players – Best, Rachel Hammond, Rachel Junn, Romelfanger, Meredith Shea, and Lauren Wichman – with a special 'Senior Day' presentation prior to the start of the match.
