Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Soccer team remains perfect at home as they edged the Tigers of Occidental College 2-1 Saturday evening at the Donald E. Graham Soccer Field during YMCA Family Night.
With the win the Poets improve to 7-2, 4-2 SCIAC and are now 6-0 at home as they remain in 2nd place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings.
The Purple & Gold wasted very little time getting on the scoreboard as Madison Shipherd (Whittier, Calif.) put away her SCIAC leading ninth goal of the season in the 17th minute coming on a corner kick from freshman Miranda Yzabal (Whittier, Calif.). Watch the Goal here!
Whittier controlled the tempo in the first half outshooting the Tigers 6-2 and forced Oxy goalie Dallas Gunny to come up with a big save early on a shot by Kaela Reisfelt (Beverly Hills, Calif.).
Out of the half, Oxy made a push using their speed to get more scoring opportunities and it paid off in the 66th minute as reigning SCIAC Player of the Year Julie Khil would add the equalizer in the box coming off a free kick from Dana Lim.
But the Poets wouldn't back down as they continued to push finding the game winner in the 80th minute. Yzabal took another corner kick but this time found Leah Kolek (Diamond Bar, Calif.) far post as she headed in her first collegiate goal and the go ahead strike.
The Poets outshot the Tigers on the evening 11-10 but saw Oxy gain five corner kicks with four coming in the second half.
Shipherd led the offensive attack with six shots with five being on goal, while Kolek and Reisfelt each added two. Alexi Cruz (Long Beach, Calif.) again put together a strong game between the posts finishing with five saves, which included a big diving save in the second half that helped preserve the 1-0 lead at one point. Watch the Save here!
Whittier has a big SCIAC Showdown this Wednesday, October 7 as they travel to take on the Athena's of Claremont-M-S beginning at 7:00pm.
