Statesmen Complete Comeback to Drop Park 4-3
Parkville, Mo.–Iris Navarro (Jr., Ontario, Calif., Biology) scored twice and assisted on another goal as the William Penn women’s soccer team rallied to defeat Park 4-3 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Saturday.
WPU (4-8, 2-5 Heart), which was outshot 21-9, overcame that mark as well as a one-goal deficit with two scores in the final 12 minutes to capture its second league win of the fall.
The navy and gold also took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Pirates that resulted in an own goal as the visitors scored three times in the second half. It is the second time this season that William Penn has scored three times after intermission; both have results in wins as the other was a 3-0 triumph over Hannibal-LaGrange on September 4.
Taylor Witthauer (So., Vancouver, Wash., Nursing) opened the day’s scoring with an unassisted goal in the 14th minute. After receiving a pass from Navarro, she carried the ball forward and then fired off a shot that slipped past the PU goalkeeper into the far netting. The goal is Witthauer’s fifth of the year, while the assist is Navarro’s third.
The Pirates (1-7-1, 1-7 Heart) notched a score a few minutes later and the sides hit the locker rooms tied at 1-1.
Witthauer, who was one of four WPU players with two shots, then put the Statesmen back ahead as, in the 59th minute, she centered a pass into the box. Fortuitously, her kick was directed by a Pirate defender, but instead of clearing it out, it was shot into the Park goal for an own goal.
The Pirates again answered, though, recording back-to-back scores in the 66th and 70th minutes. The home team’s lead stood into the 79th minute when Navarro and Witthauer tag-teamed one more time.
Witthauer stole a pass from PU and then the duo broke free for a 2-on-1 situation. Entering the box, Witthauer slotted a pass over to Navarro and she put it away to tie the contest at 3-3. The sophomore now has seven assists.
Finally, in the last minute of regulation, as it appeared the teams might be headed for WPU’s fourth overtime of the season, Navarro was knocked down in the box, resulting in a penalty kick.
The junior was chosen to take the opportunity and she pounded a shot into the right netting for the eventual game-winner. Navarro’s second goal of the game is her fifth of the year.
The Statesmen held on in the waning seconds to win for the second time in four outings.
Katja Bierman (So., Alkmaar, The Netherlands, Digital Communication) saved three Park shots in the victory.
“This was the moment we have been waiting for all season,” Head Coach Andy Commins said. “After so many close calls, the team finally managed to get that goal when it counted. The ladies rallied to overcome the loss of three starters and crafted a great team win.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Saturday to host MidAmerica Nazarene in Heart action at 2 p.m.
