Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's soccer team suffered their second straight loss in conference action falling 4-1 to the Leopards of the University of La Verne.  The Poets were shutout in the first half, but came back in the second half late to get on the scoreboard.

The Purple & Gold who were without sophomore midfielder Madison Shipherd who was out due to an injury she sustained last game was also matched up against unbearable temperatures that reached as high as 106 degrees. 

Whittier now drops to 2-4, 0-2 SCIAC, while La Verne improves to 4-1, 1-1 SCIAC.

The Leopards hopped on the board first in the 16^th minute of the first half after a through ball from Sarah Ruden found a cutting Katie Careaga in the box that she tapped in past a diving Shanna Falch.  But that was the only goal they were able to gather in the first half despite an onslaught of shots by the Poets who went into the half leading in shots 8-5. 

Coming out of the half, Whittier had an opportunity for the equalizer in the first minute of play when Ashlin Steele took a shot from 20 yards out that hit the outside of the post denying the Purple & Gold an opportunity to tie early.  They continued to be aggressive and had another good look on goal from Rachel Inouye in the 57^th minute but was unable to get all of the shot being turned away by Leopard goalie Delanie Pacheco. 

A minute later, La Verne's Marisella Macias extended the Leopard lead to 2-0 after she found the back of the goal.

Throughout the game, both sides played very aggressively until the 58^th minute when the Poets' Shannon Bowe took an elbow to the head with no foul called that caused Head Coach Monica Gerardo to become livid resulting in her receiving a red card and an early exit in the second half forcing assistant coach Josh Davis to take over.

La Verne went up 3-0 after a penalty kick sailed into the back of the net in the 72^nd minute but saw Whittier answer in the 80^th minute as Danielle Kwasniowski slipped past the Leopard defense and was fed by Sofia Garcia in transition.  This pulled the Poets within two at 3-1 but that's as close as they would get as ULV came down a minute later and put a ball into the top left corner of the goal past an outstretched Falch that put them up 4-1 giving them a lead they would not relinquish. 

Whittier continues to seek their first SCIAC victory and looks to achieve it Wednesday, September 19 against the Tigers of Occidental College with game time set for 5:00pm followed by the men who take on Occidental as well in the nightcap at 7:00pm.