Arizona’s Kelcey Cavarra and Charlotte Brascia each scored goals in the second half giving the ‘Cats a 2-1 victory over the Washington Huskies at Mulcahy Stadium on Thursday night.
The Wildcats were back on their home pitch in front of 793 fans in attendance after being on the road the previous two weeks with stops in Oregon, Utah and Colorado. In what looked like a game that was heading for over time, Brascia had made other plans after scoring with less than 10’ to go securing a win and giving the Wildcats their eighth victory of the season.
The ‘Cats would fall behind in the 27’ into the match after Huskies forward Kimberly Keever got just enough of a touch on the ball on an assist from teammate Dominique Bond-Flasza, slipping one past Arizona keeper Lainey Burdett.
In the first half the Wildcats were not playing as many have become accustom to seeing. They were not pressing as they usually do and their energy was low which is rare.
“We didn’t play great,” Arizona head coach Tony Amato said. “It felt like we just had to find a way to be gritty and find a way to win, and we did that.”
It was a tale of two halves as the whistle blew to begin the second half and Arizona was back to playing the way that has got them seven wins leading into the matchup against the Huskies. They controlled the ball in Washington’s side of the field and pressed high constantly attacking the ball when the Huskies had possession.
Their hard work would pay off in the 63’ when Cavarra scored the equalizer off a corner kick centered by teammate Morgan McGarry.
“I tried to keep it low, tried to hit it on frame I honestly didn’t even see it go in,” Cavarra said.
As the match came down to its final minutes the ‘Cats would find the net once again when Brascia scored the go-ahead goal in the 82’ off a Cali Crisler cross completing a come-from-behind win.
“Kate [assistant coach] said, to go back in there and see if I can get the game winner and it really felt good,” Brascia said.
Not only did Brascia, a Las Vegas native, score what ended up being the winning goal, but she also got to do it in front of her father who was in attendance.
“I love having him here, especially after last year he didn’t get to come to a ton,” said Brascia.
of games so it was cool to score in front of him,” Brascia said.
As the season is coming to an end the Wildcats currently sit on a 5-2-2 Pac-12 record and 8-4-4 overall.
The ‘Cats are back on the pitch Sunday, Oct. 29 at Mulcahy Stadium as they host the Washington State Cougars (9-6-2, Pac-12 4-5-0) at 12 p.m.
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