Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Soccer team saw their home winning streak come to a close Wednesday night as they fell 2-1 to the University of Redlands as they drop to 7-1-1 in the confines of the Donald E. Graham Soccer Field.
With the loss the Poets now drop into sixth place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings at 8-5-1, 5-5-1 SCIAC, while Redlands improves 8-3-2, 7-3-1 SCIAC moving into the top spot in the standings.
After a number of shots from Redlands in the early stages of the contest, forcing Alexi Cruz (Long Beach, Calif.) into four save chances, Whittier finally had earned a couple good looks in the 23rd and 24th minutes. Kaela Reisfelt (Beverly Hills, Calif.) had the first in the box and Madison Shipherd (Whittier, Calif.) would take the second forcing Bulldog keeper Hannah Menk to make a diving play above her punching the ball over the crossbar that kept the game scoreless.
Shipherd would get another chance minutes later coming on a ball put in from Mikaila Cravalho-Myers (Mililani, HI) off a corner but the shot would miss just high that kept the game at a deadlock at the break.
All three goals would be added in the second. Redlands would strike first in the 61st minute coming off a controversial corner kick. Cassie Lively would take it and put it in the box, Cruz attempted to dive on it as a number of players were in front of the goal but Sam Keary managed to get in and put a foot on it poking it past the Poet keeper that put UR in front 1-0.
It wasn't long for Redlands to add the eventual game winner as they came down four minutes later and drew a free kick. Lively would take it just past midfield in the middle third and played a perfect ball into the box that found the head of Hayley Romo, who put it past Cruz far post.
Despite trailing, Whittier wouldn't back down and would cut the deficit to one on their next possession. Shipherd managed to get the ball in the box, slipped but was able to send the ball through the too freshman Tess Peppis (Eugene, OR) who out sprinted the last defender to put away her first collegiate goal.
With about 24 minutes to play in the half, Whittier pushed the tempo but managed to get just two corner kicks and no shots off allowing Redlands to come away with the big road victory.
Redlands outshot Whittier 15-8, but the Poets held the advantage on corner kicks 5-3. Shipherd and Reisfelt each got off two shots with three of them being on goal, while Cruz finished with five saves.
Whittier hits the road this Saturday, October 24 as they take on Cal Lutheran in a big SCIAC Showdown beginning at 5:00pm.
