Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – A number of injuries to key players Saturday plagued the Whittier College Men's Soccer team as they fell 2-0 to the Leopards of the University of La Verne.
This marks the third straight conference loss for Whittier (3-4-1, 2-3-1 SCIAC), while La Verne improves to 7-2, 4-2 SCIAC.
Both goals came in the first half. The first in the 11th minute from Nathan Gonzalez who converted a penalty kick after being taken down just inside the box. The second coming in the 22nd minute from Saul Uribe who dribbled over a defender and then headed it into the bottom corner of the goal.
From the opening whistle, Whittier pushed the tempo taking an early shot from James Suri (Lake Forest, Calif.), which was saved by Leopard keeper Josh Ramirez. Following a corner kick, Whittier would take another three shots from Jacob Conlon (Fullerton, Calif.), Connor Tait-Mole (Livermore, Calif.), and Pablo Gomez (Cardiff by the Sea) but all would be off the mark.
Ryan Wood (Wilmslow, England) had a couple good looks late in the final five minutes but none would find the back of the net with his first going high and his second being saved by Ramirez that kept the deficit to two at the break.
In the second half, Whittier had its chances taking another 12 shots forcing Ramirez to come up with some big saves early, coming in the 48th and 50th minutes when he denied Gomez.
In the final four minutes, Whittier put together an onslaught of shots from Ricardo Pena (Bell Gardens, Calif.) who almost converted a free kick from on top of the box bending a shot over the wall but Ramirez dove to his right making an incredible save. Jalen Randolph (San Jose, Calif.) would take a shot wide and Conlon had the final look, which was also sent wide.
Whittier outshot La Verne 21-15 and held the slight edge 8-7 on corner kicks. Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.) collected eight saves playing all 90:00, while Ramirez totaled six. Wood led the offense taking four shots with three being on goal.
Whittier travels this Wednesday, September 30 as they take on Redlands in a big SCIAC Showdown beginning at 7:00pm.
