Wolverines Rally From Sluggish Start for Victory

Wolverines Rally From Sluggish Start for Victory

After 45 minutes Tuesday, the San Bernardino Valley College women's soccer team found itself in unfamiliar territory: down two goals at halftime.

When the opening whistle blew on the second half, it didn't take long for the Wolverines to wake up and turn the game around, as they rallied for three goals in the second half to defeat Antelope Valley, 3-2.

Less than a minute into the second half, the Wolverines went on a quick counter attack. Marcela Gallo fed a through ball up the middle to a cutting Nayeli Sandoval, who fired a shot past goalkeeper Barbara Vivas to cut the lead in half.

SBVC kept the pressure on against the visiting Mauraders, who only travelled with 12 players. In the 53rd minute, the Wolverines sent a long ball toward the AVC penalty area, and Eliana Martinez got a toe on the ball as Vivas was coming out. The ball bounced off of Vivas' hands to Gallo, who made no mistake with the empty cage in front of her to tie the game.

The Mauraders packed in their defense from there, running an offside trap that was confounding the Wolverines' attack - SBVC was whistled three times in the second half for the infraction. But the Wolverines kept the pressure on, earning five second half corner kicks.

But it was another quick counter attack that led to the game-winner. Sandoval slotted a through ball to Gallo, who finished the play with a shot past a charging Vivas.

The Wolverines found themselves in a hole early Tuesday. Antelope Valley opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Evencia Welsh was set free with a ball between SBVC defenders that she slammed past goalkeeper Kerstin Lecon. Then, in the 16th minute, Jordan Schultz converted from the penalty spot for the two-goal lead.