The Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) women’s soccer team left the UC Santa Cruz Slugs in the dust on Thursday, Sept. 12 in a 3-0 preseason shutout at the South Athletics Complex.
Coming off of last season’s 16-1-3 finish, the Sagehens are holding onto the coveted top position in SCIAC with a 4-0-1 preseason record.
Ella Endo PO ‘25 discussed how the team responds to the pressures of being ranked at the top of their conference and their goals for the season.
“I want to have fun and continue the success of this team to leave a memorable legacy along with winning a national championship, which can only be possible if we continue to put in the work and focus on togetherness rather than ranking,” Endo said.
Miranda Armstrong, assistant coach of the Sagehens, echoed this.
“I think every game is a new opportunity to step out on the field and prove yourself,” Armstrong said. “I think that goes for each individual on the team as well as the team as a whole.”
With that sentiment at the back of their minds, P-P set the tone right from kickoff with Endo netting the game’s first goal three minutes into the match from an assist by Hannah Hong PO ‘26.
After taking the lead early, the Sagehens and Slugs found themselves in a tense deadlock for the remainder of the first half. The Hens held the advantage thanks to two strong saves from P-P goalkeeper and SCIAC athlete of the week Patricia DePalma PO ‘27.
Cheered on loudly by the P-P men’s soccer team, the Hens continued their quest for goals in the second half, with Hong scoring the second goal of the night in the 76th minute.
The game accelerated, in the 79th minute, Isla Burch PZ ‘25 notched P-P’s third goal off an assist from Taylor Marshall PZ ‘26 to cap off a shutout performance.
According to Endo, who transferred to P-P, the victory was a result of the team’s chemistry and work off the field.
“The culture of the team as a transfer student was really special coming into it,” Endo said. “We do a lot to bond and uplift each other, which of course translates to how we work together on the field and our numerous successes.”
Their preseason efforts followed them into the regular season, as P-P opened SCIAC play against Whittier College with a 1-1 draw at home on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Looking forward, the Hens will face Caltech Saturday, Sept. 21.
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