NAMPA, Idaho – The Chaminade University women's soccer team will return home as very happy campers.
Shantel Torres-Benito (Waipahu, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Sacramento State/Iolani HS) fired a left-footed shot just outside the box with 32 seconds remaining to give the Silverswords a dramatic 2-1 win Saturday over Central Washington at Northwest Nazarene Soccer Field.
The 'Swords, making their first-ever non-conference road trip east of the Pacific time zone, evened their record to 1-1 on the season.
With time winding down in regulation, the 'Swords attempted a centering pass from the right side of the field where a Wildcats defender cleared the ball from in front the net. However it went straight to Torres-Benito who one-timed a blast from 25 feet out towards the lower-left corner of the net for the winning score.
The 'Swords got the game's first goal in the waning seconds of the first half when
Sharon Cain (Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama) pushed the ball to
Randi Fontes (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Pearl City HS). Fontes then beat her defender and lofted a shot past CWU goalkeeper Megan Fox for her first goal of the season.
For Fontes, who barely missed a scoring chance earlier in the game, it was career goal No. 14, putting her just one shy of Caitlin Tatemichi's school-record of 15.
The Wildcats squared the game in the 50th minute on a Makinzie Packwood goal.
Although they were outshot, 13-12, Chaminade forced Central Washington into just three shots on-goal while the 'Swords had eight SOGs themselves. Fontes took five tries while
Asya Holt (Honolulu/Roosevelt) had three.
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City) made two saves to pick up the win, evening her record to 1-1. It was also the keeper's fifth career victory, tying her with Lauren Ishii for second all-time.
Fox took the loss as the Wildcats fell to 1-1.
The Silverswords will make their home debut at the Saint Louis Field pitch on Thursday, Sept. 16 when they host a non-conference match against the University of Hawai'i Hilo.
