Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2021) – The Whittier College women's soccer team put forth a strong first half at California Lutheran University on Wednesday night, but came up just short against the SCIAC leader, a team not lacking in experience or depth.

The Poets showed they could hang with the Regals over the first 45, performing comparably with the home team statistically. Strong goalkeeping from senior Vanessa Martinez (La Mirada, Calif. / Fullerton) throughout the first half helped the visitors, as she accumulated four of her seven saves over that span. A pair of shots from freshmen Elizabeth Roybal (West Covina, Calif. / South Hills) and Layla Traylor (La Mirada, Calif. / Fullerton) challenged the opposing keeper early, but the young Poets would enter halftime in a scoreless draw with the Regals nevertheless. Cal Lutheran's depth began to play a role late, however, as all three of the Regals' goals came off of fresh substitutions, and no more than five minutes after the subs on the final two tallies.

Head Coach Derek Hanks and the Poets will see if they can get back on track when they host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (4-1-1, 1-1-1 SCIAC) on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.

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