Box Score In a tightly contested match between two nationally-ranked opponents at DiSanto Field on Friday night, the 11th-ranked Case Western Reserve University Spartans and the 12th-ranked University of Chicago Maroons played to a 1-1 double overtime tie.
Following the tie, the Spartans moved to 12-1-2 on the year, while Chicago now stands at 12-1-3. Both teams are 2-1-2 in University Athletic Association matches and tied for second in the conference.
The two teams exchanged goals early in the first half. In the 11th minute, a run by senior forward Christina Hickson forced the Chicago keeper off her line. Hickson was able to poke the ball past the keeper and junior midfielder Helina VanBibber connected with the pass on a slide, sending it into the net for her third goal of the campaign. Hickson picked up her third assist of the year and 54th career point, moving her into seventh all-time in CWRU history.
However, the Maroons had a quick response, as Nicole Kaspi evened the score in the 14th minute with her ninth goal of the season off an assist from Peyton Jefferson.
After the early offense, both teams would settle into a defensive battle for the remainder of the game. The Spartans held an 8-2 advantage in shots after the opening period, and each team registered five shots in the second half.
In overtime, CWRU took a pair of shots, including a header by VanBibber that required a save by the Chicago keeper. In the second overtime, sophomore goalkeeper Maggie Storti was able to keep the tie intact, making a save on a one-on-one chance by Chicago's Hannah Rittenhouse.
Storti played all 110 minutes in goal and made four saves in the contest. Her goals-against average now stands at 0.55 for the campaign, to go along with her 12-1-2 record.
CWRU finished the game with a 15-10 edge in total shots, including a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal. Senior Anika Washburn led all CWRU players with three shots in the game.
Prior to the start of the game, the Spartans honored their 13 graduating players and student coaches with a special 'Senior Day' ceremony. Together, the 13 players – Taylor Bova, Ella Copich, Lexi Gomez, Hickson, Greta Lazzara, Rachel LeBlanc, Kat Rebele, Jenna Ruccolo, Natalie Sedor Brianna Van Zanten, Washburn, Molly Whelan and Elizabeth White – have helped the Spartans win 33 games since 2018, including a program-record 13-win campaign in 2019 that saw the team qualify for the NCAA Championships for just the second time in its history.
The Spartans will face another key conference matchup on Sunday, October 31, when they welcome the third-ranked Washington University (Mo.) Bears to DiSanto Field for their final home game of the 2021 regular season. WashU, which stands at 13-0-1 on the year and 5-0-0 in the UAA, officially clinched the 2021 UAA Championship with a win over Carnegie Mellon on Friday night.
