Comeback Cats Earn 2-2 Draw With UAB
TUCSON, Ariz. – Playing at home for just the second time in the first five matches of the 2022 season, the Arizona Wildcats used a pair of goals in the second half to come back and earn a 2-2 draw against the UAB Blazers.
Arizona (2-1-2) has scored a total of six goals this season and all of them have come in the second half.
The Arizona goals were scored by junior Jordan Hall, her first collegiate goal, and senior Madison Goerlinger, the fourth of her career and first of this season. Jolie Maycumber picked up the assist on Hall's goal for the first point of her career.
Hope Hisey made six saves in goal for the Wildcats.
Arizona racked up a 16-9 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.
It was UAB (2-2-2) that got on the scoreboard first in the 17th minute when a cross from the left side ricocheted off two Arizona defenders and then off Carlyn Presley for her second goal of the season. Then in the 35th minute, Presley was again in the right place at the right time as a ball squeezed between two UA defenders found Presley and she slotted it home to put UAB ahead 2-0.
The Wildcats attack mounted a couple chances before halftime, including a great look off the right foot of Gianna Christiansen that sailed high from the top of the box. But at the end of 45 minutes, Arizona went into the locker room facing a two-goal deficit.
Maycumber came off the bench to start the second half at left back and her energy was felt from the start. In the 73rd minute, she made a run up the left sideline and sent a ball into the box that ended up bouncing off the crossbar and back in front of goal, where Jordan Hall was waiting and she put it home to cut the UAB lead to 2-1.
??A wonderful bit of passing gets Jolie open in space to put the cross in. Jordan was there for the easy clean up ?? #BearDown https://t.co/kX9kFTk73e pic.twitter.com/reZDVmZrZE
— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) September 4, 2022
Just 35 seconds later, Nyota Katembo received a pass on the right side of the box and was able to spin around her defender into the box before she was taken down from behind and Arizona was awarded a penalty kick. Goerlinger calmly stepped up and finished off the PK to tie the match.
?? If you let @nyota_katembo dribble around in the box you know you're in for some trouble! The PK she draws was converted afterward by @MadisonGoer_ #WeAreArizona https://t.co/7hd8mAMbGD pic.twitter.com/TLbn3kP50e
— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) September 4, 2022
The Wildcats feverishly tried to find the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes but were turned away by the UAB defenders and the match ended at 2-2.
The next match for the Wildcats is on Sunday, Sept. 11 at home against Pepperdine starting at 1:00 p.m. PT at Mulcahy Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for as low as $5.
#BearDown