Orange Coast College

Women's Soccer: Pirates, Hornets settle for 3-3 tie

Friday, September 14, 2007

COSTA MESA - Some ties are better than others. For the Orange Coast College women's soccer team, this was not one of those occasions.

After controlling things for most of the match, the Pirates saw an early 2-0 lead evaporate as the Hornets rallied to post a 3-3 tie on Friday in Orange Empire Conference action.

"Definitely would have liked a win today," OCC head coach Kevin Smith said. "We had our opportunities, but our offensive entry passing wasn't as sharp as it should have been. But we'll keep learning and continue to move forward."

Newcomer Jamie Smith got the Pirates (0-4-1, 0-1-1) going with a pair of goals in the 7th and 8th minutes to give Coast a 2-0 lead before Fullerton (1-0-1 in OEC) answered back with goals by Amanda Phillips and Jori King.

In the 28th minute, OCC regained the lead when Shannon Arnold found some open space down the right side and fed teammate Avery Williams, who ripped a shot into the far-left corner of the goal for a 3-2 Pirates' lead.

But a mishandled play by the Pirates' defense enabled Phillips a wide-open scoring opportunity and the sophomore forward didn't miss, evening the score.

OCC goalkeeper Katie Johnson made some point-blank saves in the first half and finished with seven saves, while Hornet keeper Briana Magana posted 11 saves as she was bombarded with shot after shot in the second half.

It doesn't get easier for the Pirates as they travel to Santiago Canyon to take on the first-place Hawks on Tuesday, beginning at 3 p.m.