UCLA
3-1-0
Penn State
1-2-1
Fleming Golden Goal Beats Penn State 1-0 in OT
September 02, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Los Angeles, Calif. - Freshman midfielder Jessie Fleming provided the heroics as 11th-ranked UCLA defeated reigning NCAA champion and 13th-ranked Penn State, 1-0 in overtime. The 5-4 Fleming headed home MacKenzie Cerda's corner kick at 98:01 for the golden goal.
The goal was Fleming's third in just two games since coming to Westwood last weekend after winning bronze with Team Canada at the Rio Olympics.
That's 5'4" @_jessiefleming going up high for that golden goal header and her third goal in two games. pic.twitter.com/V1u3pp8lZo
โ UCLA Women's Soccer (@UCLAWSoccer) September 3, 2016
Fellow freshman Teagan Micah picked up the shutout, her third of the season, making a career-high-tying six saves.
The Bruins had been getting stymied on the offensive front earlier in the game, getting just three shots in the first half and no shots on goal until Fleming's shot after a corner was saved by Penn State goalkeeper Amanda Dennis in the 80th minute. The Bruins got another chance on the resulting corner kick, but Annie Alvarado's shot attempt missed high. Zoey Goralski had a good look in the 84th minute, but her shot was blocked by a defender in the box.
UCLA changed up its formation in the overtime period, and it quickly paid dividends. Penn State needed a super save by Dennis in the 96th minute on a shot by Darian Jenkins to stay alive, but Dennis and the Nittany Lion defense couldn't stop Fleming's header in the 99th minute that gave UCLA the win.
"It's great getting the results, especially after last week and not having an overtime result go in our direction," said UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell. "These are big games. They're very good, very well-coached, and they're super-organized and dangerous on the counter. I think our defense was up to the task tonight and did a really good job with the danger they did have. They had a bit of a momentum swing in the second half that I didn't feel good about, but the thing I like about our team is that we keep plugging away, and we're very resilient."
The Bruins will next challenge No. 8 North Carolina in UCLA's fourth consecutive match against a Top 15 opponent and third-straight against a former NCAA champion squad. The match will take place on Friday, Sept. 9 at Drake Stadium at 7pm and will be televised live on Pac-12 Network.
Team Stats
Fleming, Jessie (3)
Assisted By: Cerda, MacKenzie
header off corner kick
98:01
