PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland's Noelle La Prevotte buried the game winner in the 94th minute as the No. 5 Pilots defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 2-1 in overtime in a West Coast Conference game played before 3,531 fans on Saturday night at Merlo Field. It's the ninth consecutive win for the Pilots, who improve to 12-1-1 on the year and to 4-0-0 in the WCC.
The game went to overtime after the Bulldogs (5-7-1, 1-2-0 WCC) benefitted from a Portland own goal late in the second half to even the score at 1-1.
Just two and a half minutes into the first overtime, the Pilots were awarded an in-direct free kick just inside the top of the 18-yard box after Gonzaga head coach Amy Edwards was issued a red card. On the re-start, Emily Sippel's initial shot was blocked, but she stayed composed and sent a pass across the top of the 18 to La Prevotte.
La Prevotte then hit the winner through a crowd and into the left corner of the net to send the Pilots home victorious. It's the second goal in as many games for La Prevotte, while it's her first game winner of the season for her.
Portland freshman Allison Wetherington initially gave Portland the 1-0 lead early the second half after a scoreless first half. In the 48th minute, Ellen Parker fed Wetherington with a short pass inside the right side of the box, and Wetherington drilled a shot into the top of the net for her third goal this season.
The score would remain 1-0 for the next 34 minutes, courtesy a couple of nice saves from both goalkeepers. In the 79th minute, Micaela Capelle hit one toward the far post from outside the left post, but GU goalkeeper Christie Tombari made a diving one-handed save. Moments later Parker unleashed a shot from the top of the box that Tombari knocked into the air before securing.
Portland's Erin Dees also made a potentially game-saving stop in the 81st minute when she knocked away a shot off the foot of Kasey Rubosky.
There was not much Dees could do minutes later when a Gonzaga cross from the left side was deflected into the goal by her teammate, which tied the score and sent the game to OT.
The Pilots outshot the Bulldogs 12-9 while both sides finished with six shots on goal. Both keepers also made five saves.
