LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 7. 2009) –
The Whittier College Poets visited Occidental College today to face
the Tigers on the Lower Soccer Field in the final game of first
round action in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference. The Tigers, playing some of the best soccer this
season, defeated the Poets 7-1 for their third league win. In
addition to improving their conference mark, Oxy scored their final
two goals five seconds apart to set a new NCAA record.
Center mid-fielder Corrine Winkler made her
presence felt during the game, as she lifted the Tigers with her
astounding defense and play making skills led the Oxy attack.
Despite the strong start by the Tigers, Whittier scored the
first goal of the game at the 9th minute of the first
half, but didn't create much offense after that, finishing
the game with only six shots compared to Oxy's 36.
First year forward Lei Song scored the first of
Oxy's goals and the only Tiger goal in the first half. An
unassisted goal, Song stole the ball from the Whittier defender and
confronted the keeper to tie the Tigers and Poets at one.
For the second half, the Tigers bounced back, scoring six more
goals. Song scored her second goal of the game from a corner kick
by defender Liz Martin, who had two assists of her
own throughout the game. Martin's kick, a shot through the
Poet defense, met Song who placed a perfect header past
Whittier's keepers and into the back of the net for the lead
and ultimate winning goal.
A handball in the Whittier penalty area set up a penalty kick
for Season Falkler-Rodriguez who put the Tigers up
3-1 over the Poets. Her second goal coincided with Martin's
second assist, another corner kick giving Oxy a 4-1 lead.
First year forward Alex Nicholson, who entered
the game after a stellar performance by Song who finished the game
with six shots, connected with Jesi Sasaki for the
fifth goal.
Then things got interesting as the black and orange prepared to
enter the record books. The sixth goal, scored at the 83:23 mark by
first year forward Becca Verstraete, came from a
through ball by Marci Kang who, throughout game,
accumulated eight shots.
A mere five seconds later at 83:28, Kang set up the final goal
with a corner kick to Grace Reinhalter who scored
to finalize the win against the Poets.
The previous record for fastest consecutive goals by the same
team was set on October 4, 1994 when Scranton scored twice in seven
seconds against Delaware Valley.
Occidental improves to 5-4, 3-3 SCIAC as they prepare to host
the University of La Verne (2-6-1, 1-4-1 SCIAC) on Patterson Field
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11:00 a.m. to begin the second leg of their
SCIAC season.
Article: Marco Castanos, Student Reporter
