Morgan Philliber made numerous key saves to help Black defeat White 3-2 Friday.
Photo by Holden Law
The Yellowjacket women’s soccer team took to the pitch on Oct. 23, playing under the lights on an unseasonably crisp October evening for the second match of the 2020 Super Series.
Team White took the opening match of the series by a 6-4 margin back on October 10, but this time around Team Black was able to flip the script, winning 3-2, and pull even in the series.
Black wasted no time getting things going in this one. Allison Alessi (Shakopee, Minn./Prior Lake) opened the scoring just 47 seconds into the match, finding the ball in tight and pushing it past White goalkeeper Madison Gutekunst (Mound, Minn./Mound Westonka) to make it 1-0.
The lead evaporated quickly, however, when Annah Schussman (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) got the ball on the right side of the box and scored with a low shot off her right foot, tying the match at 1-1 at the five-minute mark.
Black regained the lead in the 12th minute when Alessi took a feed from Claire Smith (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) and scored her second of the match to make it 2-1. The goal marked the secondstraight two-goal match for Alessi.
At the 17 minute mark, White again came back to tie, and again it was Schussman doing the damage. Schussman, who also had two goals in the first match, sent one home from the box to make things 2-2.
Black regained the lead for good at 26:42 when Gutekunst tried to play the ball up the left side and Emma Street (Oak Grove, Minn./St. Francis) intercepted. Street then quickly worked into space and got away from Gutekunst, scoring into the empty net to make it 3-2.
Defense tightened up and the goalkeeping was strong the rest of the way. Morgan Philliber (Apple Valley, Minn./Edina) was strong in goal for Black, making numerous pointblank saves to help her team stay ahead and eventually pick up the victory.
The Yellowjackets may add another match to their schedule for the 2020 Superior Super Series. Stay tuned to www.uwsyellowjackets.com for schedule updates.
