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Women's Soccer beats UC Santa Cruz in OT

Women's Soccer beats UC Santa Cruz in OT

LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne's women's soccer team has caught a taste for the dramatics.

With just 51 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, Jessica Hernandez scored the golden goal to give the Leopards their second overtime win of the season.

Season Impact: The Leopards remain undefeated, improving to 3-0 overall this season. UC Santa Cruz drops to 1-4 overall.

Hernandez has become used to putting on late game heroics for La Verne. In the Leopards' last time out, she assisted on Andrea Story's game-winning goal against William Jessup. In La Verne's first game of the season, the senior notched two goals including the game-winner in the second overtime period.  

Today was no different. In regulation, both squads had good looks at the goal but couldn't connect. With the clock winding down and the Leopards seemingly heading to their second double overtime game of the season, Hernandez beat the UC Santa Cruz defenders on an unassisted goal to keep the Leopards' record blemish free.   

"I took on I think two defenders and I just tried to get the corners because my teammates always tell me to get the corners," said Hernandez. "I did my best and tried to make my team proud and I hope I did that tonight."

Both teams played even throughout the night with the Banana Slugs finishing the match with ten shots and the Leopards turning in nine. The Banana Slugs managed one shot in overtime but keeper Jasmine Valadez stepped in front to keep La Verne's hopes alive.

Hanien Samara took the start in the box for the Leopards recording two saves. Valadez stepped into the game in the second half and overtime grabbing four saves. 

Next Game: The Leopards next open up SCIAC play Wednesday, September 13 at home against the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas at Ortmayer Stadium. Kickoff is set at 5 p.m.