FOREST GROVE, Ore.—Pacific's women's soccer team was less than six minutes from victory and later less than a minute away from settling for a tie before Redlands doused both hopes.
 
The Bulldogs' Shayla Funk fired a shot past diving Boxer goalkeeper Kailey Hifumi with just 43 seconds left in the second overtime to lead visiting Redlands past Pacific on Thursday night at Hanson Stadium, 2-1.
 
The stunning comeback came in the season opener for Redlands, while the Boxers suffered its second consecutive loss in heartbreaking fashion to fall to 0-2.
 
Earlier, Pacific had broke open a tight defensive contest with a goal by Kathleen McIntyre in the 56^th minute. McIntyre, who had just entered the match moments earlier, chipped a shot over the top of Redlands keeper Hannah Menk to give the hosts the 1-0 lead.
 
That lead looked like it might hold up as the match marched towards the 90^th minute. But the Bulldogs knotted the game at 84:24 when Erin Lau took a pass from Isabella Baez and zipped it into the net (far post), perfectly placed, from 16 yards out.
 
Redlands had a pair of solid opportunities in overtime to score, including one shot that was saved by Hifumi and another indirect kick that was blocked. But with time ticking down and a tie looming, Funk's left foot proved to be the difference, sending her teammates racing to the field to embrace her.
 
An upset victory would have been a notable for the Boxers and head coach Morgan Joseph, as they were facing a Redlands (Calif.) team that reached the second round of the NCAA Division III national tournament a year ago.
 
"That was as tough as they come in terms of losses," Joseph admitted. "But I was pleased with how we battled against a playoff tested team. Our defense was solid and I thought that Holly Chang-Northway was stellar in midfield. We will learn from this and get better."
 
Next action for Pacific won't be until Sept. 12-13 when the Boxers travel to Santa Cruz, Calif. to take on host UC-Santa Cruz and Chapman.