A second-half rally fell just short as the Ouachita Baptist University women’s soccer team dropped a heartbreaking, 5-4, decision to Christian Brothers Wednesday afternoon in a Gulf South Conference match at the OBU Soccer Complex.
Elin Svavarsdottir, who had a hat trick, recorded her third goal in the 54th minute off assists by Colleen Hart and Anna Laskarzewska to give Christian Brothers its largest lead of the day, 4-0.
Ouachita, which hadn’t scored a goal in six matches, started to mount the long comeback.
Beth Wendle cut the margin to 4-1 as she scored in the 61st minute. Lyndsay Romano’s shot was blocked and the ball bounced to Wendle, whose shot beat Christian Brothers goalkeeper Christina Barone.
Just three minutes later, Lauren Pierce scored her second goal of the season off an assist by Wendle. Ouachita trimmed the deficit to just a single goal as Wendle scored her second of the game off an assist by Romano in the 67th minute.
The Lady Bucs increased the lead to 5-3 after Analise Nevarez’s shot found the back of the net off an assist by Marie Kvarnlof in the 71st minute.
Pierce added her second goal with 11 minutes remaining off an assist by Wendle, again cutting the margin to just one goal, 5-4, but that was as close as the Lady Tigers would get.
The Lady Bucs (8-6-1 overall, 2-2-1 GSC) broke the scoreless tie in the 14th minute as Svavarsdottir scored her first goal on an assist by Laskarzewska. Svavarsdottir added her second in the 24th minute on an assist by Laskarzewska. Annelise Nevarez beat the last two defenders and knocked the ball past Lady Tiger goalkeeper Sarah Glenn to give Christian Brothers a 3-0 lead.
The best Ouachita chance came with three minutes remaining in the first half as Lauren Pierce’s shot banged off the left post. The ball rebounded to Emily Jackson and her shot was just wide.
Glenn finished with six saves, while Barone had two for the Lady Bucs.
The Lady Tigers (1-7, 0-7) will play their final home contest of the season 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28 against Central Baptist as the team will honor Senior Day at the OBU Soccer Complex.
