Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Soccer team opened up 2017 in a big way Friday night as they rolled Emerson College 5-1 in the newly renovated Memorial Stadium in front of a crowd of over 300 strong.

Following a shutout win over Rio Hondo a week ago in a warm-up test, the Purple & Gold continued where they left off putting up five goals, which is the most scored in a single game under Head Coach Monica Gerardo.

The Poets blanked the Lions in the first half 3-0 before tacking on another two in the second.

Senior captain Lauren Kai (Torrance, Calif.) got the scoring started with a quick bender from the wing that got past Laura Gartelman top shelf inside the first minute of play and the Poets didn't look back.

Freshman Jazmin Gomez (Norwalk, Calif.) picked up the second connection this time from on top of the box getting fed by Kanoe Morihara (Mililani, HI) at the 8:39 mark and senior captain Leah Kolek (Diamond Bar, Calif.) put the finishing touches on an impressive first half with a long range missile that again touched the top shelf with under a minute to play.

Rachel Lord stopped the bleeding for the Lions out of the break as she managed to put a lob over Poet goalie Stella Thermos (Seal Beach, Calif.) from just outside the box but that was the only offense generated by Emerson as Whittier quickly answered with back to back connections that secured the victory.

Kolek added her second of the game at the 61:36 mark getting a nice through ball from Clarissa Field (Whittier, Calif.) and Aubrey Baran (La Mirada, Calif.) was at the right spot at the right time as she received a touch from Mikaela Malsy (Westminster, Calif.) back post. 

Thermos picked up her first collegiate win picking up four saves against five shots.  Whittier outshot Emerson 13-6 and had three corner kicks, while Kolek led the offense with two goals on three shots.          

Whittier remains at home this Wednesday, September 6 as they host Soka beginning at 6:00pm.