Lady Mustangs Come from Behind to Tie Menlo

Alyssa Hopewell scored her first career brace and Hattie Van Bibber collected her first career assist as Master's came back to tie the Menlo Oaks Thursday 2-2 on Reese Field.

Despite controlling the match in the first half, the Oaks were able to get a couple of breakaways in the first 21 minutes of the match to net their two goals. Master's out-shot Menlo 10-6 in the first half, 20-9 for the entire match.

"I thought we moved the ball around really well in the first half and got punished twice with their speed and our indecisiveness in defending it," said Master's Head Coach Curtis Lewis.

The Lady Mustangs (3-7-5, 1-2-4 GSAC) climbed to within a goal in the 31st minute when Van Bibber's pass to Hannah Burke gave Master's leading scorer a chance to score. But her shot bounced straight down off the cross bar and in front of Hopewell, who headed the ball into the goal.

"Even though we went into halftime down 2-1, I felt really good about the majority of our performance," Lewis said.

Twenty one minutes into the second half, Hopewell used her head again. Brandi Meyer's free kick into the box was headed by Ellie Radmilovich before Hopewell used her head to get the ball into the net and tie the match at 2-2. Hopewell now has four goals on the season and is tied with Burke for the team lead.

"What a great day for Alyssa Hopewell," Lewis said. "She is a great poaching forward, and all of her four goals this year have come from those same sort of positions. I am very proud of her."

The tie gives Master's a chance to get into the post-season conference tournament, something that looked like a pipe dream for the team just two weeks ago. But in those last two weeks, the Lady Mustangs are 1-0-3 and find themselves with a huge opportunity to advance. They will play the Warriors of William Jessup Saturday at home on what will be Senior Day. The Warriors are last in conference with just one win.

"It all comes down to this last match, and it's on Senior Day," Lewis said. "We are excited about the position we have put ourselves in and look forward to celebrating our seniors."

Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m.