After spending time in Washington, the Bulldogs returned to California, where they split a weekend series against the UC Riverside Highlanders and at home facing the Cal State Northridge (CSUN) Matadors.
Extra time was needed in the match against the Highlanders. At the end of regulation, the game was tied 0-0, sending the Bulldogs into their third overtime game of the season.
In the 98th minute, senior defender Lauren Lindstrom took advantage of a corner kick from senior Shonice Myers. She placed a header past Highlander goalkeeper Elizabeth Silas to win the match for the Bulldogs.
The victory gave the Bulldogs a 3-3 record, for the season
On Sunday, the Bulldogs fell short in their afternoon matchup against the Matadors.
Fresno State led 1-0 after the first half, with defender Morgan Castain scoring an unassisted goal after nearly eight-and-a-half minutes of play.
The Matadors recovered after the half. Forward Brittanie Sakajian scored an unassisted goal after 50 minutes to tie the game. Midfielder Amanda Smith took a pass from forward Lyndsey Preston past goalkeeper Katie DeVault for the game-winning goal near the 70th minute.
The Bulldogs kept fighting until the end. A header shot by Lindstrom nearly made its way past Matador goalkeeper Cynthia Tafoya, but she corralled the ball to seal the victory for CSUN.
For Bulldogs coach Brian Zwaschka, the two-game stretch was relentless, as the team had to brace against the heat during Sunday’s loss.
‘We were a little bit concerned about playing one home and one away because of the travel,” Zwaschka said. “I certainly don’t want to make any excuses, but I think it caught up with us. That plus the extra ten minutes of overtime on Friday.”
“[The Matadors] were a little brighter in the second half, and we were a little flat.”
The Bulldogs will now get to rest, as their next game will be Friday at Sacramento State.