Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – In a physical and grueling contest Saturday evening, the Poets came out victorious 3-2 as they edged the Leopards of La Verne to move to 7-3-1, 6-1-1 SCIAC holding tight to the top spot in the SCIAC standings.
Currently the Poets sit in first place with Redlands (6-2, 6-2 SCIAC), Cal Lutheran (7-2-2, 5-1-2 SCIAC), and Claremont-M-S (6-4-1, 5-2-1 SCIAC) also chasing.
Whittier got on the scoreboard first in the 16th minute from Francis Maxwell (Clydebank, Scotland) who took a shot while sliding in the box, which came from Devin Guthrie (Huntington Beach, Calif.). This would be Maxwell's SCIAC leading 9th goal of the season putting him also atop the league leaders in points (19) and shots (47).
Despite only tallying six shots and two corner kicks in the first half the Poets managed to hold La Verne to just three shots and no corners allowing the score to remain 1-0 going into the break.
The second half proved to be completely different than the first with four goals being scored coupled with six yellow cards and 17 fouls. Whittier added to their lead quickly out of the break five minutes in from defender Ian Cromwell (Pleasanton, Calif.) who tapped in a loose ball, his first of the season and his third of his career in front of the goal coming off of a corner kick from Gary Kelman (Aberdeen, Scotland).
In the 78th minute however La Verne cut the deficit to one thanks to Fernando Almejo but two minutes later Lucas Depinna (Portland, OR) received a through ball from Maxwell from 30 yards out which he sent over Leopard keeper Dylan Roberts that put the Purple & Gold back up by two.
But no lead is safe at the Graham Soccer Field as La Verne would come down on their next possession and tally their second goal of the game from David Gonzalez which he sent in over Poet keeper Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.) from just outside the box. But in the final eight minutes the Poets put up a strong defensive stand that allowed them to come away with the victory.
Whittier outshot La Verne 13-8 on the evening but was at a disadvantage on corner kicks 4-3. Maxwell fired off five shots with three being on goal, while Dylan Fortin (San Diego, Calif.) took two with both being on frame.
The Poets hit the road for two games this week when they take on Redlands, Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00pm before traveling to Claremont, Calif. to take on Pomona-Pitzer, Saturday, October 12 at 11:00am.
