Box Score I
Photo Gallery
PORTLAND, Ore. --- After Micaela Capelle had equalized for Portland in the second half, Santa Clara’s Bridgett Miller scored the game-winner in the 85th minute to hand the No. 12 Broncos a 2-1 win over the Pilots in a West Coast Conference match played on Friday night at Merlo Field. The Pilots had two PK’s denied in the game, which was broadcast live nationally on ESPNU.
The first penalty attempt for the Pilots (6-8-1, 1-3-0 WCC) came in the fourth minute after the Broncos were whistled for a foul inside the 18-yard box. But SCU goalkeeper Bianca Henninger came up with a stellar save on the shot from Danielle Foxhoven, pushing the shot wide and out of bounds.
Barely a minute later, the Broncos (10-1-5, 3-0-1 WCC) scored the game’s first goal on a header from Julie Johnston. Bridgett Miller whipped a service into the box on a free kick from about 40 yards out. Johnston elevated to send a header just over the outstretched hand of Portland goalkeeper Hailee DeYoung, giving Santa Clara the 1-nil advantage.
The score was still 1-0 when UP had another golden opportunity with yet another penalty kick with just 22 seconds to play in the first half. But again Johnston came up with a clutch save, keeping the score 1-0 in SCU’s favor at the break.
The two teams then exchanged shots in the second half before Capelle made it four straight games with a goal when she found the back of the net in the 63rd minute. On a throw-in from Taylor Brooke from the right side of the field, Capelle, who was posting up the defender, let the ball bounce over her before spinning towards the SCU goal. She finished top shelf to even the score at 1-1.
But the Broncos had an answer in the form of Miller with only five minutes to play. Sophia Huerta found Miller inside the right side of the 18-yard box with a long pass from near the center circle. Miller took a few touches before finishing inside the left post.
The Pilots then tried to find the equalizer in the closing minutes with the best effort coming on a header from Foxhoven. But her attempt was wide of the left post with less than two minutes left.
Santa Clara had 15 shots for the match, while the Pilots countered with 11. Both teams had five shots on-goal and UP claimed all five of the game’s corner kicks.
DeYoung had three saves for UP, Henninger had four for the Broncos.
The Pilots next hop on a plane and head south for a WCC game on Sunday against the San Francisco Dons. Kick-off at Negoesco Stadium is set for 1 p.m. in San Francisco, Calif.
