WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 4, 2023) – The defensive efforts of the Whittier College women's soccer team, led by junior outside back
Juliana Hodgson (Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills) and junior goalkeeper
Beth Juarez (Whittier, Calif. / California), helped the Poets pick up a well-earned draw with No. 23 California Lutheran University at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.
After a two-win week in conference play, the Poets continued their impressive run of form by competing with not only one of the SCIAC's top teams but also one of the top teams in Division III. At no point during Wednesday's 90-minute game did the Poets look overmatched by their opponent, or the moment. In fact, the Poets even largely controlled the pace of the first half, and delivered higher-quality chances despite being outshot. However, the game took on a new meeting when freshman forward and reigning SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week
Madeline Traylor (Covina, Calif. / Oak Charter) staked the home team to a one-goal lead in the 52nd minute.
The shot appeared to be going wide, but instead curled to the inside of the right post where it beat the Cal Lutheran keeper for just the second time this year. That's right -- Traylor's goal marked the second time all season the Regals have conceded a goal, with the last goal belonging to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in a game the Athenas went on to lose. Junior forward
Elizabeth Roybal (West Covina, Calif. / South Hills) assisted on the goal.
With the freshman phenom having finally pierced its defense, Cal Lutheran changed up its tactics and went into attack mode for the next six minutes. The Poets' defense did well to hold off the Regals for as long as they did, with players like Hodgson and junior
Chloe Fung (Seattle, Wash. / Holy Names Academy) making well-timed tackles and Juarez making several acrobatic saves, including one where she needed to elevate to the top left corner of the net in order to keep the ball out. However, the Regals eventually broke through in the 58th minute, though the Poets were undeterred. Rather, they remained aggressive and continued to test the Cal Lutheran back four over the final 32 minutes of action.
Six different Whittier players tested the Cal Lutheran keeper, but the biggest generators of chances were perhaps Roybal and the younger Traylor, who repeatedly found junior forward
Layla Traylor (Covina, Calif. / Oak Charter) streaking up the left side to either put the ball on net, or dish to one of her teammates. However, the Regals managed to stand tall, but so did the Poets, who dominated possession over the final three minutes of play. Juarez' effort proved to be more than enough to earn the draw, with the junior making six tough saves to keep the Purple & Gold in the game.
The result now has the Poets in pole position of fourth place in the conference standings, holding a two-point lead over CMS for the last remaining playoff spot. Cal Lutheran, along with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges have dominated the early SCIAC slate, but there is still room for two teams to position themselves among the SCIAC's top teams and challenge them later this fall.
Head Coach
Derek Hanks and the Poets will try to earn points in their fourth-consecutive game when they travel to Chapman University on Saturday, Oct. 7 for an 11 a.m. game.
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