Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2021) – The Whittier College women's soccer team's goalkeeping duo combined to make five stops against visiting Occidental College in Wednesday night's home game.

Senior Vanessa Martinez (La Mirada, Calif. / Fullerton) drew the start for the Poets and made three saves before giving way to freshman Arizbeth Juarez (Whittier, Calif. / California) in her first appearance in more than a month. Juarez, who entered the game at the start of the second half, stopped two shots. Martinez, Juarez, and the youthful Poets' defense were forced to contend with a relentless attack from the SCIAC's fourth-ranked team, but did come away with a few key opportunities of their own. A positive touch from sophomore midfielder Samantha Ceballos (Whittier, Calif. St. Paul) set the Poets up for success in the first half, which led to a shot from freshman Layla Traylor (Covina, Calif. / Oak) right in front of the net that could have been a goal had the opposing keeper been even half a step behind the play. Both players finished the game with one shot-on-goal apiece.

Head Coach Derek Hanks and the Poets will return to the road on Saturday, Oct. 23 when they take on Caltech in Pasadena at 2 p.m.

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