By Beth Renkoski

11/06/09

Couch Strikes Gold For Lions

Dintino scored the tying goal

Couch headed in the GWG

Riverside, Calif. - Matching up for the second time this season, the No. 8 Vanguard Lions and the No. 7-ranked California Baptist Lancers battled for 101 minutes before one team would fall and the other would remain standing, advancing to the Championship game of the GSAC Postseason Tournament next Friday. VU’s freshman Amanda Couch would supply the finishing blow for the Lions, knocking in the golden goal and knocking the second-seeded Lancers out of the tournament. Today's 2-1 victory sends third-seeded Lions into the final game. Defeating the Lancers for the second time this season, Vanguard finally broke a four-tie streak and gained its first real win since its last double overtime victory, a 1-0 decision over No. 17-ranked Point Loma on October 21st.

The Lions, who advanced to today’s semifinal by winning a shootout against sixth-seeded Concordia on Tuesday, had not scored a goal in two games coming into today’s contest. Playing 220 minutes of scoreless soccer and holding on for double overtime ties, things looked a little bleak for the visitors when host California Baptist scored less than five minutes after the opening kickoff. CBU’s Lizzy Bendrick displayed her power 4:31 into the game when she drilled home a shot from 35 yards out to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.

The Lancers had seen the Lions score four goals against them in Costa Mesa a month ago in their first meeting, but were well aware that Vanguard had hit an offensive drought as of late. Nonetheless, the Lions kept firing with the belief that they could win. Taking six shots in the first half, the Lions finally broke onto the scoreboard when Kathleen McDonald served a ball to the left side for junior forward Danielle Dintino, VU’s fourth-leading scorer. Dintino fired to the far post for her fifth goal of the season and the 19th of her collegiate career. CBU’s Emily Evanson made two saves to keep the Lancers tied 1-1 heading into the halftime break, despite being outshot 6-3.

Vanguard rifled off 12 shots in the second half with Evanson saving the four shots on goal, while VU’s Jill Foss, the GSAC Defensive Player of the Week and All-GSAC goalie, saved the two shots the Lancers put on frame in the second half with four more landing off line.

The teams combined for five shots in the first overtime period as each goalie made one save in their respective goal. The ten-minute period was quickly history and the Lions headed into their sixth straight double-overtime game and their seventh in the last eight games.

After winning the shootout on Tuesday, the Lions did not want to get to that point today. Bursting into the second overtime period, freshman Lauren Evans played a long ball into the CBU box where Couch jumped up to meet the ball. Heading the ball over an charging Evanson, Couch sent the Lions into celebration as she notched her first golden goal of the season and her third game-winner. No doubt the biggest goal of her young career, the freshman now has nine goals on the season, second-highest for the Lions.

The victory propels Vanguard (12-1-5) into the finals, but fourth-seeded Point Loma’s upset over top-seeded Azusa Pacific today turns the Lions into hosts for the GSAC Tournament Championship. The Championship battle will be next Friday, November 13th, with the winner gaining an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament.

Complete GSAC Tournament results will be posted on the GSAC website. Go Lions!

Boxscore