Johnson's late heroics give Simpson 3-2 win

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Amber Johnson scored two goals in a two-minute span and the Simpson women's soccer team came back for a 3-2 win against Buena Vista on Saturday.

Simpson trailed 2-1 after a Tori Carson goal in the 84th minute before Johnson got hot. She stole the ball from a Buena Vista defender and beat the beat the keeper into the left net for her first goal at the 83:10 mark. Less than two minutes later – at 84:49 – she  took a bouncing pass from Bailey Sipfle on the right wing and again went far post for the goal.

The win snaps a six-game winless streak for the Storm (3-10-1, 1-1-1 Iowa Conference) and gives confidence to a team hurt by injury and illness as of late.

"This is a great win for the girls," head coach Ryan Sander said. "I told them it doesn't matter how we win, just that we win. It's been rough, but we are coming together."

Coming off consecutive seven-goal seasons, Johnson – a junior – had just one goal through the month of September. After Saturday's two-goal effort she has three in the last three games and four on the year, providing some leadership for a young team.

"Amber has been working her tail off and she's determined to win," Sander said. "That was just a display of guts on her part and she took care of business."

Kate Morford gave Simpson a 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute off an assist by Amy Loverin. Sharon Feld came up with the equalizer in the 72nd minute for the Beavers (2-10, 0-3).

Stephanie Cox made seven saves for Simpson and Tricia Schwartz had nine for Buena Vista.

Simpson gets a break from its Iowa Conference slate when it travels to St. Ambrose on Tuesday, Oct. 8.