Oakland Soul SC [1] were moments away from keeping their perfect home record unblemished, but a goal from visiting California Storm in added time of the second half ensured a 2-2 draw at Merritt College on Thursday, June 14.
[2]The match started on level ground, with both teams earning their share of scoring chances. Heading into the final moments of the first half, it looked as though the two sides would walk into their locker rooms scoreless.
But Sam Tran had other ideas. In the 44th minute, Tran dribbled into the right side of the penalty area past a Cal Storm defender and sent a strike towards the left side of the goal, which found its way past the diving keeper and into the net to give the Soul a late first half lead.
Oakland started the second frame the same way they ended the first. Just minutes after the whistle, Arianna Veland doubled the Oakland lead when a 47th-minute corner kick led to a scrum in the box. Veland found just enough room to put a shot on the screened keeper and into the twine to give her side a 2-0 advantage.
Cal Storm got one back in the 72nd minute when a bad clearing attempt after a corner kick kept the ball in the penalty box, eventually finding Cam Lancaster, who buried the point blank shot to make it 2-1.
The Soul were hoping to weather the Storm with the lead heading into added time, but their hopes were dashed just moments before the final whistle. Giana Riley dribbled up the left side and delivered a perfect pass to Erica Grilione, who took a touch to shake a Soul defender and put a low corner shot past the keeper to tie it up at 2-2. The final whistle came just seconds after play resumed at midfield.
The Soul team will now head out on the road to face Pleasanton Rage on June 20.
Summary
Scoring:
- OAK: Sam Tran 44’
- OAK: Arianna Veland 47’
- CAL: Cam Lancaster 72’
- CAL: Erica Grilione 90’+
Oakland Soul SC
Lineup: Bella Mendoza, Lauren Frohan, Sydney Shepherd, Arianna Veland, Kyah Coady (Clare Robke), Henar Urteaga, Sarah Mirr (Kaytlin Brinkman), Miranda Nild (Alessandrea Carpio), Tatiana Cunningham (Vickie Jones), Sam Tran, Shae Murison (Cecilia Gee)
Unused subs: Madison Samilo, Cassia Souza