OLYMPIA, Wash. - Brittney Lacey had a pair of goals and Jessica Ayala added a goal and an assist, helping The College of Idaho win their fourth match in five games, defeating The Evergreen State College, 5-1.
Box Score
The victory for the Lady Yotes (5-5-1, 4-2 CCC) keeps the squad in the hunt for one of the four berths into the Cascade Conference postseason tournament and elevates the team to the .500 mark for the first time this season.
The C of I dominated the first half, holding an 11-3 edge in total shots - getting on the board in the 18th minute, as a foul in the box allowed Lacey to attempt the Yotes first penalty kick of the season, beating Geoducks (0-10-1, 0-6) keeper Kaitlin MacKenzie for a 1-0 lead. It would stay that way until the 41st minute, when Brianna Blair played a corner into the area, with Hallie Taufoou headed a ball to Ayala, who knocked a header past MacKenzie for a two-goal lead.
ESC made a game of it early in the second half, as Rayna Murphy made a long run down the left side and slotted home a goal to cut the margin to 2-1, but the Yotes responded, as in the 62nd minute, Sarah Hicks laced a shot off back-up keeper, Lauren Davidson's hands regain a two-goal margin.
The Yotes would get a pair of insurance goals late, as Lacey took an Ayala feed in the 73rd minute and ripped a left-footed blast into the net, while McKenzie Anderson got a pass from Natasha Rooney just outside the 18 in the 85th minute and looped a shot into the net.
The C of I held a 16-11 edge in total shots, including a 12-4 edge in shots on goal, with the Yotes holding a slim 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Tomorrow, the Coyotes head up to Northwest University for a key CCC showdown at 3 p.m.
