SALEM, Ore. - Portland CC escaped from Salem with a positive result, drawing at Chemeketa 2-2 yesterday.
Down 2-1, the Panthers got their equalizing goal from an unlikely source - goalkeeper Evelyn Hollingsworth. With the minutes ticking away at the end of the second half, PCC were awarded a free kick at the midfield line. Hollingsworth came out of her box to take the kick with the rest of the team pushed forward to maximize their chances in front of goal. Hollingsworth put her foot through the ball, but no player tracked its flight. Instead it bounced heavily in the penalty area, and then over the Chemeketa keeper who could only get fingertips to it before going over the line.
The score was a satisfying result for Portland, who fell 5-1 earlier in the season to the Storm at home. The stats tell the story of a different game this time around, with PCC out shooting Chemeketa 14-7 and winning 9 corner kicks compared to two for the hosts.
Chemeketa did score first, with Kenya Bautista finding the nest just before halftime.Â
Alli Aldinger tied the game for Portland ten minutes into the second period, but the Storm went in front again in the 63rd minute as Bautista struck for her second of the game.
That set the stage for Hollingsworth's heroics.
The result keeps the status quo in the NWAC region standings, with PCC sitting in 4th with a 5-3-1 record.
