ARCATA, Calif.---Humboldt State finished its opening weekend of the 2021 season with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the visiting Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans this afternoon at College Creek Field.
Clara Lenihan connected on the match's first goal in the sixth minute off a cross from
Poppy Cartledge. With 17 minutes left in regulation and the score tied at 1-1,
Kendal Spencer connected on a long shot from the far-right side of the goal for the game-winner.
QUOTES FROM THE COACH: "We put a lot work in this weekend so it was good to get a positive result and give us some momentum moving forward," said head coach
Grant Landy. "Hilo really came out and rattled us that first 15 minutes or so, their movement off the ball was problematic for us. It was great to get on the scoreboard first to settle us down a bit."
"We made some good adjustments in the second half and had a great mentality," added Landy. "That was probably was the best half of soccer we have played so far. Our movement and build up was excellent. Defensively we had a very strong performance again. I am very proud of the group for coming off a double overtime game Friday and finding the energy and enthusiasm to get the result today."
FIRST HALF: The Lumberjacks (1-0-1) took the early 1-0 lead in the sixth minute on a goal by
Clara Lenihan off a cross from
Poppy Cartledge. Hawai'I Hilo had two chances to tie the match in the next 12 minutes until Daeleen Tokunaga connected on an unassisted goal in the 20
th minute to tie the match at 1-1. The 'Jacks had a chance to break the tie in the final seconds, but
Maddie Johnson's shot sailed out top left of the goal.
SECOND HALF: The hosts came out strong out of the half, but
Rhea Chan's shot was stopped by the Vulcan's Viviana Poli in the 49
th minute. Neither team had a shot attempt until the 74
th minute, when
Kendal Spencer connected on what proved to be the game-winner on an unassisted goal that sailed past the Vulcan keeper. Poli made two more saves for the visitors in the 78
th minute when she stopped
Erin Mohr's and
Emma McChristie's shot on goal attempts to keep the score HSU 2-1. Hawai'i Hilo (0-2) saw its chance of tying the match be stopped by the Lumberjacks'
Alexis Aguilar in the 85
th minute as HSU took the 2-1 victory.
CAREER FIRST: Clara Lenihan's goal in the sixth minute was her first goal in the Green and Gold. Her goal came off a ball from
Poppy Cartledge.
SECOND GAME-WINNER: Kendal Spencer recorded her second career game-winning goal this afternoon with an unassisted goal in the 74
th minute. Her first game-winner came in HSU's 1-0 win over Cal State Monterey Bay on October 20, 2019.
AGUILAR: Alexis Aguilar finished the weekend with nine saves as she recorded three this afternoon. After the two matches, she had a 0.45 goals against average with nine saves and a .750 saves percentage.
UP NEXT: The Lumberjacks will begin a season long four-match road trip next weekend in Monmouth, Oregon. They will face Central Washington at noon on Friday, September 10. HSU will finish the first part of the road trip with a noon starting match on Sunday, September 12 against Western Oregon.
