Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College
women's soccer team edged out the Leopards of the University of La
Verne Wednesday evening en route to a 2-1 victory that snapped
their four game losing streak.
With the win Whittier now improves to 5-8, 3-6 in SCIAC play and wraps up
the 2012 match-up with La Verne in a split after dropping the first
matchup 4-1 back on September 15.
Junior goalie Shanna
Falch who was sidelined with a concussion last game
got the nod in goal and achieved her fifth win of the season by
posting three saves facing eleven shots with four of them being on
goal.
Both teams would remain scoreless for much of the first half,
but the momentum would shift in favor of the Leopards when Linda
Kommel would convert a La Verne free kick opportunity from 40 yards
out with less than 10 seconds on the clock helping La Verne go into
the half up 1-0.
La Verne continued with their one goal lead throughout a
majority of the second half until the Poets' Sophia Garcia would connect on her
team high fourth goal of the season and the equalizer in the
70th minute when she got a ball played in to her, which
she struck off her right foot to the far post while
sliding.
With the game destined for overtime, Whittier's sophomore
midfielder Madison
Shipherd had other plans when she connected on her
third goal of the season in the 84th minute that put
Whittier in front 2-1, ultimately propelling the Poets to the one
goal victory. Shipherd took the game into her own hands
beating several Leopard defenders on the dribble and slotting the
ball past a diving Delanie Pacheco.
Despite an aggressive attack by the Leopards in the final ten
minutes of play the Poet defense stood strong not allowing the game
tying goal helping Whittier escape with the victory.
"I'm extremely proud of our entire team's effort. We came
back from 1-0 down due to our consistent and composed play
offensively. The defense played tough and tight, denying them
any true scoring opportunities. It was a full team effort
from beginning to end", explained Head Coach Monica Gerardo.
Whittier looks to build upon this win as they look towards
Saturday, October 13 when they travel to take on the Tigers of
Occidental College beginning at 11:00am.
