Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 2, 2022) – After knocking on the door throughout the duration of the second half, the Whittier College women's soccer team scored a late goal to threaten a last-minute comeback against visiting University of Redlands on Saturday afternoon.

Junior midfielder Mackenzie Reed (Mililani, Hawaii / Mililani) bagged the goal with just three minutes remaining in regulation. The goal came as a result of the Poets overwhelming the Bulldogs with pressure, a risk that certainly paid off for the third-year player as she easily knocked the ball into the back of the net. Reed's goal came after a would-be Poets goal was called back earlier in the half, as well as a shot from freshman Layla Traylor (Covina, Calif. / Oak) that came from a tough angle that barely missed the net wide right. Additionally, the Poets were not without opportunities after Reed's goal. A foul from the Bulldogs with just over a minute left to go enabled a free kick from freshman defender Sarah Blackmore (Beaverton, Ore. / Aloha) that rebounded into a crowd of Poets. Traylor eventually corralled the ball and took it down the left side, but was unable to spawn a chance from the run. Meanwhile, senior Vanessa Martinez (La Mirada, Calif. / Fullerton) drew her third-consecutive start and made three saves, including a diving sweep late in the first half to help circumvent a three-goal Redlands advantage.

Head Coach Derek Hanks and the Poets will look to build off Saturday's showing when they travel to Occidental College (4-2-3, 1-2-2 SCIAC) on Wednesday, Oct. 6.

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