CALDWELL, Idaho –
Bailey Watson broke a tie with a 63rd minute goal to lift the College of Idaho to a key 2-1 victory over Warner Pacific on Senior Day at Simplot Stadium.
On a day when the Lady Yotes (6-7-1, 4-4-1 CCC) honored their eight senior student-athletes, a trio of the players competing on the home pitch for the final time factored in the two C of I goals.
C of I struck first at the end of the 23rd minute, as senior
Katelyn Benavidez played a perfect cross into the middle of the penalty box, finding the foot of fellow senior
Sabrina Mallett – who ripped a one-timer into the net for the 1-0 lead.
Though the Yotes controlled possession for the majority of the opening 45 minutes, the Knights (3-9-2, 1-6-2) pulled even in the 39th minute. On a counter attack, Bethany Forst played a long through-ball to the charging Ashley Giesbers behind the C of I defense, lining a 20-yard dart into the right corner of the net.
The score remained tied until midway through the second half when senior
Hailey Boyd played a long free kick into the middle of the area. Watson collected the pass after a deflection and punched a 10-yard shot into the net for the go-ahead tally.
The Knights were unable to capitalize inside the final six minutes, drawing three consecutive corner kick chances – but C of I keeper
Brittany Houghton stood her ground and WPC was unable to get another solid look the rest of the way.
C of I held a 16-7 edge in total shots and an 11-6 edge in corner kicks.
The Lady Yotes close out the regular-season next weekend with road matches at Northwest and Evergreen.
