Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team faced a tough test Friday afternoon in their 2017 season opener as they fell 3-1 to Vanguard University.

The Lions, a Nationally-Ranked NAIA program improves to 4-1 on the season as Whittier drops to 0-1.

The first half was played tight for the first 24 minutes until the Lions would add the go-ahead goal.  The Poets added seven shots in the half but none would find the back of the net as they would go into the half trailing 1-0.

Vanguard came out of the break quickly to add two quick strikes within a couple minutes of each other to extend their lead to 3-0.  Freshman Luis Espitia (Paramount, Calif.) would stop the run with his first goal of his career at the 77:31 mark after being fed by Rayray Roberson (Albuquerque, NM) but that would be the only offense generated as the Purple & Gold couldn't make up the two goal differential down the stretch.

Scott Clark (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) led the Poets offense with three shots, while Alejandro Trujillo (Buena Park, Calif.) would add two.  Nathan Armas (Montclair, Calif.) got the start between the posts and collected seven saves against 10 shots.

Whittier was outshot for the game 24-12 and was at a disadvantage on corner kicks 10-3.       

Whittier returns to competition this Wednesday, September 6 as they open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play with a match-up against Cal Lutheran University beginning at 7:00pm in Thousand Oaks, Calif.