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Women’s Soccer defeated Biola University 2-0 on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 10. PPWS scored early in_x000D_
the thirteenth minute with an attack up the left side from Allie_x000D_
Tao PO ’14, who beat a player and shot the ball. Tao’s shot was deflected, but she_x000D_
regained control of the ball and passed it to unmarked forward Traci Lopez PZ ’12. With_x000D_
composure, Lopez placed the ball low past Biola’s keeper for her first goal of_x000D_
the season._x000D_
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Toward the_x000D_
end of the first half, Defender Jordan Bryant PO ’13 nearly scored off a free_x000D_
kick; however, Biola’s keeper tipped the ball over the net. Lopez scored her_x000D_
second goal in the final minute of the first half with a header off of a corner kick from junior defender Claire Mueller PO ’13.
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In the_x000D_
second half, the Sagehens were able to hold off Biola’s attack. Tao almost took_x000D_
the lead to 3-0, but her low shot bounced off the post. Overall, P-P out shot Biola 16-7 with keeper Emma Wolfarth PO ’14 only needing to make two saves.
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“Last year, against a team of_x000D_
Biola’s level, we wouldn’t have won,” said Head Coach Jen Scanlon._x000D_
“It’s exciting for us to be able to score against a team that strong a couple_x000D_
of times, and then play well enough defensively to get the shutout on top of_x000D_
that. This gives us a great lift going into the SCIAC.”
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The confidence from Biola’s win_x000D_
carried over into P-P’s first SCIAC game Wednesday against Redlands. PPWS won_x000D_
2-0 against nationally ranked University of Redlands. Transfer student Erin_x000D_
Edmonds PO ’14 scored with 14 minutes left in the first half off of Rachel_x000D_
Eckerlin PZ ’12’s cross. Under pressure, Eckerlin placed the ball into the box, where_x000D_
Edmonds ran on to finish it for her second goal of the season.
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With seven minutes left in play,_x000D_
Lopez earned her third goal in two consecutive matches with a break away. Lilli_x000D_
Barrett-O’Keefe PZ ’14 put a Redlands defender under pressure forcing her to pass_x000D_
the ball backwards. Lopez stole the pass and kicked the ball through Redlands’s keeper Linzey Smith’s legs for a point.
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Redlands’ best opportunity against_x000D_
P-P came in the second half with Devin Wright’s corner kick. Sagehen goalie_x000D_
Emma Wolfarth PO ’14 hit the ball away, keeping her shut out record for games at_x000D_
home this season. The only goal scored against Wolfarth was this season was a_x000D_
penalty kick by Vanguard University.
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The Sagehens strong finish against_x000D_
Biola and Redlands signals a new era for the team.
“This is a statement to send_x000D_
to SCIAC,” said Coach Scanlon. “We just beat a really good team.” However,_x000D_
Scanlon reminds her team that Redlands “is just one game of 12” this_x000D_
season.
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PPWS is starting league play with fewer_x000D_
injuries and more depth in the roster than past seasons. While PPWS’s senior_x000D_
class is small, Traci Lopez is proving to be a leader on the scoreboard and_x000D_
super senior Rachel “Old Maid” Eckerlin is returning for a second year as_x000D_
Captain. Defender Martha Marich PO ’12 (PPWS Fan Club Co-President) and myself_x000D_
are sidelined this season with knee injuries. The junior class boasts seasoned defenders Anika Burrell PO, Bryant, and Mueller with Claudia_x000D_
Zaugg PO in the midfield. The 11 members of the sophomore class, who_x000D_
outnumbered returning players their first season, are now more experienced._x000D_
Seven first-years will contribute to Pomona-Pitzer Women’s Soccer reaching its_x000D_
goal.
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“We want to make the tournament_x000D_
this year,” said Emma Wolfarth. If the Sagehens continue to play as they_x000D_
have this week, they can make their goal a reality.
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Pomona-Pitzer will continue SCIAC_x000D_
play at La Verne 7 p.m. Saturday night.
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