By
Audrey DeAnda
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona defeats Long Island, Northern Arizona for title
The UA soccer team can finally shake off haunting memories of losing three games in the waning moments this season. The Wildcats hung on to a 1-0 lead against Long Island and edged out a victory in overtime against Northern Arizona this weekend to win the Starwoods Plaza Soccer Classic.
UA freshman forward Liz Bartlett was a dominant force in the Wildcats' victories against the Lumberjacks Friday and Long Island University Saturday.
Bartlett lead the team in shots and goals in the weekend tournament at Murphey Stadium, racking up 12 shots and scoring two of the Wildcats' three goals - including the game winner against LIU.
"When a freshman leads your team offensively and scores the winner - no matter how it goes in - it's a good day," head coach Cathy Klein said. "Liz is our best player right now, that's exciting when she's a freshman only nine games into the season - she's just getting fit."
UA's 2-1 victory against LIU marked the Wildcats' fifth overtime game this season - Arizona is 2-2-1 in those games.
Bartlett scored the winning goal three minutes into overtime when she broke away from the pack at midfield and outmaneuvered the LIU goalkeeper to win the game for UA.
"All I could think was don't miss, don't miss," Bartlett said. "I knew if I stayed composed and remembered what we've been doing in practice, I could do it."
The Blackbirds(4-7-0 overall) came out strong in the second half , when they scored less than two minutes into the half. LIU halfback Erika Lee nailed a header off of a corner kick in the 46th minute to put the Blackbirds up 1-0.
Arizona responded seven minutes later when sophomore defender Naomi Chu led a pass to Bartlett who dribbled past the goalkeeper to tie the game, 1-1.
Arizona's goalkeepers - senior Inger Airheart and junior Shannon Monti -split time in front of the net. Airheart generated four saves during the weekend and Monti racked up three.
Klein started Airheart the second half of both games, including the overtime against LIU.
"We put (Airheart) in the overtime because she is so composed and experienced," Klein said. "I'm just trying to find the right combination to win."
Airheart was happy to contribute the team after being sidelined for two weeks with an injured shoulder.
"It's such a relief to finally be injury-free and to be able to come in when called upon," Airheart said.
Arizona led LIU in shots, 21-10, and had the corner kick advantage, 4-1.
The Wildcats stayed offensively strong in Saturday's match against in-state rival Northern Arizona University.
UA junior forward Kristi Lorona put the Wildcats up early, scoring in the 36th minute of the game.
Lorona nailed an eight yard shot after the ball rebounded off of Lumberjack goalkeeper Katie Maxwell.
"I noticed the goalkeeper kept batting the ball away so I wasn't surprised when it came back to me," Lorona said. "It was one of those shots you don't think is going to go in, but you take it anyway."
While NAU (3-10-0) outshot Arizona, 15-12, the Wildcats had an 8-5 corner-kick advantage. With the 1-0 victory, the Wildcats recorded its first shutout of the season.
Overall, Klein was happy with the team's progression during the weekend.
"It was their most complete effort," Klein said. "From the goalkeepers to the defenders to the midfielders to the front runners - I thought they stuck to a system of play and our gameplan."
The Wildcats' victories improved their record to 3-6-1 for the season and gave the team its first win streak of the season.
"I felt to have a rock-solid foundation, we needed two wins this weekend," Klein said. "We're not a team that's going to blow anybody out right now. We're a team that's going to win through hard work, commitment and organized thought."
