Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. - A second half push threatened the Regals of Cal Lutheran University Wednesday evening as the Whittier College women's soccer team erased a 6-0 halftime deficit only to fall 6-3 despite controlling the entire second half.
Whittier is the lone SCIAC team to score three goals against the Regals this season and it marks the first time Cal Lutheran has allowed at least three goals in a contest to an opponent dating back to September 6 when they fell 4-1 to Hardin Simmons (TX).
Cal Lutheran came out of the gates quickly adding six goals in the first half from five different players led by Bianca Deardorff who had two herself. But in the second half it was all Whittier as they tallied three goals themselves on six shots, while shutting out CLU limiting them to just two shots.
CLU received their first goal from Stephanie Gilbert who tapped in a cross from Mallory Carcich, Deardorff responded four minutes later with a tap in coming off of a rebound from Taylor Will. Kristina Hulse then got into the mix receiving a ball at the top of the box from Deardorff which she finished and was followed by Anna Medler who finished off a corner kick from Carcich in the 20th minute. Deardorff then tallied her second goal of the game from the wing that hit off the far post and in past an outstretched Shanna Falch (Doylestown, PA) and then Katelyn Kimball relative of Whittier College baseball and basketball Hall of Famer Jim Olsen wrapped up the scoring with a lofted ball from just inside the box that sent the score into the half 6-0.
In the second, Whittier responded and found their offensive spark adding three goals for the second straight game. Madison Shipherd (Whittier, Calif.) got things started two minutes in carrying the ball past a defender before splitting two more in the box and finishing a bender past Regal goalie Karly Loberg. Courtney Maddux (Huntington Beach, Calif.) then found the back of the goal in the 61st minute, her first of the season getting a touch from Ashley Avalos (Los Angeles, Calif.) before finding the side post.
Four minutes later, Shipherd would tally her second goal of the game and her fifth in two games after she got fouled in the box earning a penalty kick. On the ensuing kick, she would connect going bottom left collecting her 8th goal of the season.
Despite one final effort by the Purple & Gold it wouldn't be enough to pull off the upset victory, but they can come away seeing the final shot totals ending in a tie 13-13, which included a 6-2 advantage in the second half.
Shipherd took 10 shots on the evening with three being on goal, while Rosemarie Orlando (San Pedro, Calif.) and Maddux each took a shot apiece.
Whittier looks to continue their offensive presence into Saturday's game, October 19 when they travel to Orange, Calif. to take on Chapman University beginning at 7:00pm.
