NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Linfield won't leave the Chicago area empty-handed as the Wildcats used some late-game magic to take down Grove City Saturday morning at North Central College's Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.
The 'Cats weren't off to a good start, scoring an own goal in the 23
rd minute to put the Wolverines on the board. The score was evened just before halftime when freshman forward
Janae Lewis notched her team-leading third goal of the season in the 45
th minute. Lewis finished with a match-high seven shots, two on goal, in 79 minutes played.
Callie Kawaguchi has been an important piece to Linfield's attacking depth in 2022. The senior put the 'Cats back on top with her second goal of the season in the 67
th minute off an assist by
Bella Hanna.
Grove City responded less than two minutes later when Natalie Merrick found the back of the net in the 69
th, assisted by Lexi Zook. The Wolverines totaled nine shots, five on goal.
With new overtime rules in place, both teams were running out of time before the match would be declared a tie after regulation. That was until
Laney Green was fouled and awarded a penalty kick in the 83
rd. The senior drilled the go-ahead PK to send the 'Cats back to McMinnville with a 1-1 record at the North Central Tournament.
Green fired off six shots off the bench while Kawaguchi had four shots, three on goal. Hanna played the full 90 minutes on the backline.
Emilee Miller played the entire match in goal for the 'Cats, making three saves.
NEXT
Linfield (2-1-1) opens Northwest Conference play in Tacoma, playing at Puget Sound on Sept. 17 and Pacific Lutheran on Sept. 18. The 'Cats will look to better their 3-12-1 NWC record from 2021.
