Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team saw their 2015 season come to a close Wednesday evening as they fell 4-1 to the University of La Verne dropping them into seventh place in the SCIAC Standings.
The Poets put together a strong first half scoring two minutes after Nathan Gonzalez scored for the Leos coming in the 41st minute. The goal would be the fourth for James Suri (Lake Forest, Calif.) on the season who was assisted by Dylan Fortin (San Diego, Calif.).
But in the second the wheels fell off for the Purple & Gold as ULV would score three goals within a span of six minutes. Gonzalez broke the 1-1 time in the 60th minute when he converted a cross from Alfredo Garcia from the left side. Then in the 65th minuteleft back Harim Coronado intercepted a poor clearance off a corner and put in a cross to the head of Humberto Irra, who put it into the net to give the Leopards a 3-1 lead.
Just 52 seconds later, as Whittier pressed high, Gonzalez dispossessed the Poets in the midfield and freed up Briley Venti for a 1-on-1 chance with Whittier goalkeeper Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.). Venti calmly tucked it away into the bottom left corner to seal the game for La Verne.
Whittier was outshot on the evening 20-7 but held the one advantage on corner kicks 7-6. Ricardo Pena (Bell Gardens, Calif.) led the team with three shots with one being on goal, while Rivas picked up four saves.
Whittier rounds out 2015 5-11-2, 4-10-2 SCIAC and finish in seventh place in the SCIAC Standings missing the SCIAC Post Season Tournament for the second consecutive year.
