In the final tune-up before the conference schedule begins, The Master's women's soccer team lost to Soka University of America 2-1 Saturday in Aliso Viejo, Calif.
The Mustangs (3-1) out-shot the Seawolfs 17-11, with seven of those 17 shots on goal.
But the biggest play of the game was just 9:24 into the match when TMU goalkeeper
Autumn Jensen came out to confront a Soka forward who had the ball and they collided. The referee ruled a foul against Jensen, and since she was the last defender and it was a scoring opportunity, she was issued a red card.
What made the situation even worse is she was injured on the play and may be out for the season.
Then in the second half with the score tied 1-1,
Sasha Redshaw was given her second yellow card of the game, which became an automatic red and she too was out of the game.
Down to nine players on the field, TMU still had a chance. However, a free kick by the Seawolfs from 35 yards out found its way to the back of the net with 1:20 to play, giving Soka a 2-1 advantage.
But the Mustangs were not finished.
Down two players on the field, the team pressed, and when a Soka defender kicked the ball back to the her goalkeeper, who could not use her hands in that situation,
Sinclair Francescon took the ball away from the keeper and got off a shot with five seconds to play. But the shot sailed over the crossbar just before the final buzzer sounded.
"We out-played that team with nine players," said TMU Head Coach Esteban Chavez. "To play with such heart, with the fact that you are upset and disappointed because your goalkeeper is injured and you played with nine players, showed so much character. It's disappointing to lose like that at the end. But to play the way we did, I am so proud of my team."
With just 57 seconds to play in the first half, Soka scored to send the teams to the locker room at 1-0.
Nearly 14 minutes into the second half, Freshman
Breanna Fajardo scored her second goal of the season to knot the match at 1-1. That set up the closing dramatic moments of the match.
The Master's will open conference play at home on Thursday when they host No. 13 Embry-Riddle at Reese Field. The match is part of a doubleheader as the men play the Eagles at 1:30 followed by the women's team at 4 p.m.
"Going into conference play, we have possibly lost our keeper for the season and lost Sasha for this first game (due to the red card), who has become one of the most important players we have on this team," Coach Chavez said. "But what I saw (the team) display on this field (Saturday night), I'm excited to get the conference season underway."
