Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Soccer team produced a comeback Wednesday evening as they played to a draw with Cal Lutheran University inside Rolland Stadium.
The showdown proved tough as CLU was one of the top teams within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings but Whittier once again battled to their fourth draw on the season.
Whittier moves to 3-4-4, 1-3-3 SCIAC and sit in 6th place in the SCIAC Standings. The Regals drop into 3rd posting a record of 9-1-2, 4-1-2 SCIAC.
The first half was scoreless with a mere seven shots being collected. Whittier's Leah Kolek (Diamond Bar, Calif.) and Kaela Reisfelt (Beverly Hills, Calif.) got things started for the Purple & Gold forcing Regal goalie Coral Hasley to come up with two saves early.
In the 37th minute, Whittier earned a corner kick, which was taken by Clarissa Field (Whittier, Calif.). They would come up empty on the possession but would come down seven minutes later with Field taking a strike but having it blocked before Lyla Matar (Glendale, Calif.) would put the final shot on frame just missing high.
In the second half, CLU got an opportunity from Olivia Leyva in the 59th minute who sent in a ball into the box on a free kick but on the other end Nina Winsick would send her shot high that would keep the game scoreless.
But three minutes later the Regals would connect with the go ahead goal. Riley Martin lofted a ball into the box off a corner kick that found Julia Kearns on the opposite end who then headed it into the back of the net.
In the 74th minute the Poets found the equalizer capitalizing on a free kick from thirty yards out. Jenna Muise (Chino Hills, Calif.) booted a line drive into a crowd within the box and somehow the ball dropped to Leila Afrasiyabi' (Los Angeles, Calif.) foot who then connected for her first goal of the season.
Afrasiyabi would get another look in the 87th minute for the game-winner but would get denied by Hasley as that would send the game into overtime.
In extra time the Poets were unable to get a shot off but were able to weather the storm of CLU putting on four as they would hold on for the tie.
CLU outshot Whittier 15-13 for the game and held and advantage 4-3 on corner kicks.
Alexi Cruz (Long Beach, Calif.) played all 110:00 finishing with four saves.
Field led the offense with three shots, while Afrasiyabi and Reisfelt each recorded two.
Whittier returns to action this Saturday, October 8 as they travel to Chapman University to take on the Panthers. Game time is set for 7:00pm.
