Santarossa, Latham score in 4-2 defeat to Gaels
Corvallis, Ore. – The Oregon State women’s soccer team outshot St. Mary’s 14-10 and had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks, but the Beavers fell 4-2 on Sunday at Lorenz Field.
Freshman midfielder Kayla Latham and sophomore midfielder Sabrina Santarossa scored their first career goals for the Beavers (0-3-1). OSU erased 1-0 and 2-1 deficits before the Gaels (3-1-0) broke through twice in the final 25 minutes for the win.
“We absolutely played better offensively today” while ended a three-game dry spell with their first goals of the season, OSU coach Linus Rhode said. “We have to take the defensive performance from Friday and the offensive performance from today and put them together.
“That’s what it’s going to take for us to keep improving. We created some good chances but shot ourselves in the foot with some silly defensive mistakes. We have to learn some tough lessons.”
St. Mary’s midfielder Samantha Dion scored the game-winner at 64:18. The Gaels added an insurance goal at 69:58 when a point-blank cross deflected in off an OSU defender.
“It definitely was a bit of misfortune,” Rohde said of the own-goal. “But I’m one of those guys who believes you have to make your own luck.
“There were definitely a lot of learning moments for our team and we will have more of those moments, I’m sure. The biggest thing is to stay together, stay focused and keep learning from the positives and the negatives.”
SMC took a 1-0 lead at 9:44 on Jessica Castillo’s free kick. The Beavers answered at 28:20 when Santarossa scored on a penalty kick after a teammate was shoved down in the box.
Forward Hannah Diaz sent the Gaels back ahead 2-1 on a header at 39:43. Lathan forged another tie by finishing off an excellent cross by sophomore midfielder Annie Govig at 57:09. Defender Julia Sattler, the lone senior on the roster, started the play and also received an assist.
The Beavers host Cal State-Fullerton at 7 p.m. Friday and Eastern Michigan at noon on Sunday in their next games.
For more information on the Oregon State women’s soccer team, follow the club’s official Twitter account at twitter.com/@OSU_WSoccer.