Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – Tiara Pajimola scored twice in the second half to lift Whitworth to a 2-1 come-from-behind win over visiting Carroll University (Wis.) on Monday afternoon in a non-conference women's soccer match at the Whitworth Soccer Field.
The Pirates improved to 3-0 with three victories in the opening weekend of the season. The Pioneers, who fell to Whitman 1-0 on Sunday, dropped to 0-2 with their second loss in Eastern Washington.
Carroll took a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute when Elaine Sauve put back her own shot after Pirate goalkeeper Andrea Stump made an initial save but could not control the rebound.
Carroll held a 6-5 lead in total shots in the first half and a 3-2 edge in shots on-goal. Stump and Pioneer goalkeeper Erica Patterson each made a pair of saves in the opening period.
Whitworth played with more determination in the second half, controlling most of the play. Pajimola tied the game in the 63rd minute, but her goal was set up by Kristin Wucherer. Wucherer dispossessed a Carroll defender near the Pioneers' end link and fed a wide-open Pajimola who finished the play with her third goal of the season.
The match-winning goal, in the 74th minute, was all Pajimola. She took a pass on the right side, went by a defender, took two more touches and then fired a rocket just inside the far post.
"Carroll was assertive in going to the ball and we struggled to get momentum going in the first half," said Pirate head coach Jael Hagerott. "We were very pleased with how the team responded in the second half, coming back from a goal down. Tiara scored two beautiful goals and we did much better stepping to and winning the ball on the field."
Whitworth outshot Carroll 10—2 in the second half, with a 6-1 edge in shots on-goal.
Whitworth will return to action next Saturday with a contest at NAIA power Concordia (Ore.) in Portland. It is the Pirates' final non-conference contest before opening their conference schedule on September 13 at Whitman.
"We are pleased to come away with three wins against quality opponents," said Hagerott. "We are looking forward to continuing to develop as a group as we prepare for conference play."
