BERKELEY, Calif. -- With less than 60 seconds remaining on the clock in a battle between top-15 teams Friday afternoon, Texas Tech and Cal appeared all but set to end in a scoreless draw.
Janine Beckie ended that thought rather quickly, though, scoring the game-winning goal with 32 seconds remaining in the second overtime to push the seventh-ranked Red Raiders to a 1-0 victory against No. 11 Cal at Goldman Field.
The victory improved the Red Raiders to 6-0 on the year, matching the best start to a season in school history from 1995. It was also Tech's second victory against a ranked opponent already this year, marking the first time in program history where the Red Raiders have done so twice in a season.
"We are certainly excited about such a big road win," said Tech head coach Tom Stone, who is now 4-2 at Tech against ranked non-conference opponents. "Cal gave us a lot to deal with but we did not break and the finish was classic Janine. She seems to be able to raise her game in the biggest of moments."
Proud of our TT Soccer ladies tonight. Great game w/#11 Cal-back/forth but once again they find a way.#nobackingup #nobackingdown#notdoneyet
— Tom Stone (@TomStone9) September 13, 2014
Beckie soared high on the corner kick, outmaneuvering the Cal defense to head the ball just under the crossbar to send the Tech bench storming onto the field following its third overtime victory already this year.
The Red Raiders had previously celebrated a golden goal just this past Sunday when Hannah Devine broke up a scoreless match with Portland State, heading in a Alli Murphy corner kick with 88 seconds remaining in double overtime. Tech is now 3-0 this year in overtime matches.
The goal was the third of the season for Beckie and the 12th game-winner of her already impressive career. She is now the Tech career record holder for game-winning goals, breaking the previous mark set by Kristi Patterson (1994-96) and Jessica Fuston (2010-13).
Murphy was credited with an assist on the goal, moving her season total to eight through just six matches. It was the fifth Tech goal this year off a corner kick, all five of which that have come off the foot of Murphy.
"It's still early but we recognize that this schedule is teaching us valuable lessons about ourselves early in the season," Stone said. "There is a lot left to improve on if we want to keep this going. I was proud of our team today, though."
The Tech defense, meanwhile, silenced a Cal attack that had not previously been shut out since Oct. 28 last year in a 1-0 loss at Oregon. The Golden Bears came into the match with 19 goals already this year, 14 of which that had come in the second half alone.
Tech goalkeeper Lauren Watson played well throughout the night, coming off her line several times to disrupt a potential Cal attack in the Tech final third. She finished with four saves in her third shutout of the season.
Cal outshot the Red Raiders, 19-12, but trailed ultimately in corner kicks with Tech attempting seven to just four from the Golden Bears. The two teams combined for only seven shots-on-goal overall.
