TUCSON, Ariz.???Sheaffer Skadsen played hero of the night as her equalizing goal in the 89th minute allowed Arizona to extend their unbeaten streak to six games to start the season as their match against No. 18 Texas Tech ended in a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of action.
“Towards the end of the game they moved me up to midfield,” Skadsen said. “We played with two defenders and the girls stayed back there and fought for us. I joined the attack and I was just trying to get to where the ball was and score.”
The 110-minute, double overtime affair, which was seen by a crowd of 1,068, the third-largest crowd in Arizona history, featured a total of 29 shots and 28 fouls. Gabi Stoian led the way for Arizona with six shots and Maddy Crabtree finished with four for Texas Tech.
Arizona got off to a fast start as Charlotte Brascia received a through ball from Stoian that led to a breakaway, but Brascia's far-post shot was saved by Texas Tech goalkeeper Lauren Watson.
In the 11th minute, Texas Tech drilled the crossbar after a shot was taken from a difficult angle towards the goal line. Just one minute later, the Red Raiders got on the board.
Crabtree received a perfect cross from Gwennie Puente from the left side of the box and Crabtree carefully placed into the upper left corner off a volley to make the score 1-0 Texas Tech.
Just one minute later, Haley Silverberg got her head on a Stoian corner kick, but Watson was able to save it, though it required some quick reactions as Silverberg was about five yards away from the goal.
In the 31st minute, Arizona goalkeeper Lainey Burdett came up with the save of the night. Texas Tech's near post rocket of a shot was on target, but Burdett laid out and was able to get a hand on it, preventing another Red Raider goal.
At the start of the second half, Stoian managed to get a shot on goal in about 30 seconds, but Watson managed to dive to her left and make the save.
Trouble was brewing for Texas Tech as Watson went to clear a cross, but she could not handle the ball and Hannah Wong gained possession. She took a few steps backwards and made a move to avoid the keeper and took a shot towards goal. The ball was on its way to the back of the net, but a Red Raider defender came to the rescue and headed the ball to safety.
With about five minutes left in the match, Skadsen was called on to join the attack. Little did she know, she would be the centerpiece of possibly the most dramatic moment of the 2015 season.
In the 89th minute, Stoian held the ball on the left wing and was able to find Skadsen sprinting alone down the middle of the field towards the goal box. She gave her a perfect setup pass and Skadsen placed the ball into the net with class, tying the match at one.
This was the first time Skadsen scored in a non-penalty situation as she has scored two penalty kicks during her career. Stoian now has a team-high four assists and is tied for fourth on the Arizona all-time assist list with 11.
The match went into extra time, which consisted of two 10-minute halves. However, a goal by either team would end the match.
Cece Bilginer had the best chance during extra time as she found some space in the goal box and tried to beat the keeper far post, but her shot went about two feet wide. Arizona had one more chance in the second half of extra time, but nothing too serious and the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
Arizona is back in action on Sunday, Sept. 13 as they take on 14th-ranked Pepperdine at 1:30 p.m. MST on the Pac-12 Networks.
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