CHENEY, Wash. — Lexi Rakela and Jasmyne Dunn scored three minutes apart to open the second half and visiting Sacramento State rallied from a first-half deficit for a 2-1 Big Sky Conference victory at Eastern Washington on Friday afternoon at EWU Soccer Field.
The win moved the Hornets to 3-8-4 overall and 3-2-1 in league play, picking up three huge points in the Big Sky standings and winning for the first time on the road in 2022. The Eagles fell to 5-7-4 overall and an even 2-2-2 in conference, suffering their first loss at home this season.
The two scores after the break were only the second and third scored by Sacramento State in the second half this season, and the first since Abigail Lopez did so at Pacific back on Aug. 21.
Eastern Washington wasted little time in getting on the board in the fourth minute as Maddie Morgan converted a pass from Elisabeth Cole for the 1-0 lead at the 3:00 mark.
It stayed that way until the 49th minute when Rakela headed home her first career goal in the green and gold. Aubrey Goodwill curled a free kick from the left side to the back right post where Rakela out-jumped her mark and put it past the Eagles' keeper to tie the score at one apiece.
Just over three minutes later, it was Dunn who came through in the run of play to put Sacramento State ahead for good, cashing in her third goal of the season in the 52nd minute.
Dunn won the ball near midfield and moved toward the middle of the field unmarked. From about 25 yards, she floated a shot to the upper left corner just past the outstretched arm of the EWU keeper and in for the 2-1 advantage.
The goal was Dunn's fourth of her career — all of them going down as game-winners.
The defense then held from there as goalkeeper
Mia Shalit finished with seven saves — three of those coming in the final half hour as the defense successfully withstood a barrage of nine shots from the Eagles to close the contest.
Abigail Lopez finished with a team-high four shot attempts, followed by Dunn's three, as the Hornets finished with 11 chances on the day.
Sacramento State closes its trip to the Pacific Northwest on Sunday (Oct. 16) at Idaho. Kick-off is scheduled for Noon PT.
