CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Junior Dakota Olson redirected an Amanda
Jones pass late in the second half, knotting the score and eventually providing
the Charlotte 49ers women's soccer team a 1-1 tie against Clemson Sunday
afternoon at Transamerica Field in Charlotte, N.C.
Olson's goal, the first of her career, came at 76:02 after the 49ers found
themselves trailing for much of the afternoon. Jones made a run down the left
side before sending her cross back across the goal mouth in front of Tiger
keeper Hunter Rittgers. Olson one-touched the pass off the left post and the
ball worked its way along the end line between the pipes before rolling over
for the equalizer.
Charlotte (4-2-1) had other chances throughout the match to slip one past
Rittgers, including a pair of attempts off a first half corner kick, but the
Clemson backline stood tall in preventing a score. Lacey McGowan nearly headed
in the initial corner kick, placing it off the cross bar, before Carrie Dail added
another attempt that was blocked.
The 49er flurry of activity around the cage came after Liska Dobbertstein gave
the Tigers an early 1-0 advantage at the 10:59 mark. Maddy Elder set up the
go-ahead score with a run to the right post before dropping it off for
Dobberstein, who sent it to the far left netting for her team-leading fourth
score of the campaign.
Charlotte netminder Alex Kubrick came up with numerous key saves to keep her
team within striking distance with none more important than her late stop in
the second extra period. With Clemson (5-1-2) rushing the net as the clock
wound down, Dobberstein positioned a header just underneath the cross bar.
However, Kubrick made a leaping save, punching the ball over the cross bar and
forcing a corner kick that resulted in a clear by her defensive unit with just
over a minute left.
Lena Suarez also had a look in the early portions of the first overtime period
for the 49ers, but her header sailed just wide. The Tigers had a chance, as a
cross went past the legs of three players and out-of-bounds to the far side,
preventing any glance at the net.
Charlotte returns to action when it closes the three-match homestand by playing
host to cross-county rival Davidson at 7 p.m. Thursday at Transamerica Field.