Tornados and Knights Play to 1-1 Draw

Tornados and Knights Play to 1-1 Draw

BUENA VISTA, Va. - Freshmen midfielders Brianna Link (one goal) and Emma Gooch (one assist) connected for the Tornados' lone goal in the seventh minute as the Brevard College Tornados women's soccer team (0-2-2) drew, 1-1 with the host Southern Virginia (1-4-1) on Saturday evening at Knight Stadium in Buena Vista, Va. 

Junior goalkeeper Rebeccah Rojas (0-2-2) turned away six Knight shots as the Tornado defense held Southern Virginia scoreless through the second half and both overtime, despite facing an onslaught of shots. 

Link and Gooch connected at the 6:56 mark to give the Tornados an early 1-0 advantage before the Knights of Southern Virginia countered with a 31st-minute strike off a free kick to equalize the contest, 1-1. 

In total, the Knights held a 23-9 shot advantage, including a 7-4 edge with on-goal shots. The Knights controlled possession through the second half, winning six of their nine corner kicks in the second period.

Link, a freshman from Murrieta, Calif., put her first collegiate goal in the back of the net on Brevard's first shot attempt of the game to give the Tornados an early edge, 1-0. Just two minutes later, Link went for goal once again, just missing wide right. 

Following a BC foul, the Knights set up for a free-kick and converted the set-piece when SVU's Tori Wescott hit a volley past Rojas for the score. 

Brevard's Link shot twice more before the half, as the two sides remained tied, 1-1.

The Knights of Southern Virginia put the pressure on the Tornados in attack, shooting five-straight times in the first 15 minutes. Brevard's Link and Jessica Tenjhay forced saves by the Southern Virginia goalkeeper. 

Both teams traded last-minute chances, as both teams got shots off in the final minute of regulation before the match went to extra time. 

Southern Virginia outshot Brevard, 5-0 in both overtime periods, but couldn't find the back of the net as three shots were blocked. After 20 minutes of overtime, the contest remained a draw at 1-1. 

Brevard returns to action on Tuesday, September 17 when the Tornados host Salem College at 7 p.m. at Ives-Lemel Family Field. BC's contest versus Salem will serve as the WNC-area Alumni meetup game, hosted by the Brevard College Alumni Association. WNC area alumni are welcomed to a BBQ cookout to cheer on BC women's soccer.

To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook. 

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