LONGVIEW, WA – The Lower Columbia College women's soccer team fought to a 2-2 draw against the rival Centralia Trailblazers in a hard-fought match at Northlake Field on Saturday, October 11th. In a classic tale of two halves, the Red Devils built a strong lead early before the Trailblazers mounted a late comeback to split the points.
The Red Devils came out with high energy, dominating the first half of play. LCC's offense controlled the tempo, putting constant pressure on the Centralia defense and earning six corner kicks. The effort paid off in the 19th minute when sophomore Ava Gibbs headed a corner kick from Raelie Guizzotti into the back of the net.
Lower Columbia wasn't done yet. Just before the halftime whistle, in the 44th minute, Addison Hartley found the back of the net, thanks to a well-placed pass from defender Annabelle Rogers, giving the Red Devils a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the break.
The second half saw a determined Centralia team flip the script. The Trailblazers increased their offensive pressure, forcing the Red Devils into a defensive battle. The visitors got on the board in the 61st minute with a penalty kick goal.
As Centralia pushed for an equalizer, LCC goalkeeper Cassandra Cleland delivered a heroic performance. Cleland stood tall against the barrage, making six crucial saves in the second half alone to keep the Devils ahead. Despite her stellar play, Centralia managed to score the game-tying goal in the 88th minute.
The final whistle blew with the score knotted at 2-2. The draw moves the Red Devils' record to 3-3-3 on the season, 4-5-4 overall.
Next up, the Devils travel to Olympia to take on the South Puget Sound Clippers this Wednesday, October 15. Kickoff is set for 2:15 pm at the Regional Athletic Center.
