Bushnell University

EUGENE, Ore.  – An opportunistic Bushnell women's soccer team scored on four of their five shots-on-goal on Saturday night as they took down Eastern Oregon University on Saturday afternoon, 4-2, handing the Mounties their first Cascade Conference loss of the season.
 
The Beacons (2-3-2, 1-2 CCC) knock off the Mounties (7-2-1, 3-1), currently receiving votes in the NAIA national coaches poll, for just the fourth time in school history and the first since 2016, breaking a streak of eight straight losses in the series. The Beacons scored just two goals over that stretch, and have never scored more than twice in the same game against EOU.
 
Head Coach Toni Malone said, "I am really proud of our win today. We went into halftime down 1-0 and made a few tactical adjustments. The girls responded exactly how we needed them to. They stepped up and were brave on the ball. I am really proud of the way this group continues to fight, adapt, and believe in each other."
 
A scoreless game for the first 42 minutes, Eastern Oregon finally broke through to take the lead in the 43rd as Ava Henkemeyer took a pass from Kenzie Snell to put the Mounties up 1-0 with just two minutes remaining in the first half.
 
The Beacons answered with a flurry, scoring three goals in a four-minute stretch. In the 58th minute, Brielle Engle scored off a corner kick from Adrie Lader to tie the game. Just 79 seconds later, they would take the lead as Malia Banry sent a clearance pass all the way from the defensive third. The ball bounced twice in the midfield untouched before finding Elidia Cervantes Carlos on the run. Cervantes Carlos then fired a quick 30-yard strike over the keeper to make it 2-1.
 
In the 62nd minute it became a 3-1 game as Lader connected with Engle again, this time with a beautiful header off a free kick.
 
Eastern was able to slow down the Beacons long enough to push across another goal in the 69th minute when Ashley Smith collected a loose ball after a corner kick, and struck a ball off of a Beacon defender from 18-yards out.
 
Bushnell wasn't finished, however, adding some insurance in the 83rd minute. Ryah Larsen got the ball just outside of the box and sent a quick-strike through-ball ahead to an unmarked Ohu Miles, who found the back of the net.
 
The final score was not reflective of possession as Eastern Oregon dominated the ball for most of the night and held a 19-6 advantage in shots. The Mounties had nine shots-on-goal, leading to seven saves for Gabriella Montes in her first CCC victory.

UP NEXT: Bushnell will hit the road for their next five games, beginning on Friday when they head to Portland to take on Warner Pacific University (2-3-1, 1-2) at 12:00 pm.