Box Score WHITTIER, Calif. (Sept. 14, 2024) – Freshman
Jessica Jensen (Las Vegas, Nev. / Liberty) of the Whittier College women's soccer team gave her team an incredible boost late, resulting in the Poets defeating the University of La Verne in a non-conference teaser before the conference schedule ramps up this week.
The Poets beat the Leopards, 1-0, on the back of Jensen's incredible second-half goal. The freshman received a pass from junior midfielder
Juliana Hodgson (Fullerton, Calif. / Sunny Hills) and proceeded to launch a rocket off her right foot from almost 35 feet out that beat an unsuspecting La Verne goalkeeper for the brace. Jensen's goal came in precisely the 46th minute of play, just one minute out of the half, and helped set the tone for the Poets' defense the rest of the game.
"I saw the goalie was off her line, and during half, Coach Derek [Hanks] told us to shoot the ball more because she tended to be off her line a lot," Jensen said. "So, I took his advice, turned the defender and ripped it!"
The Leopards were only able to get two shots on Whittier goalkeeper
Mya Rodriguez (Visalia, Calif. / El Diamante) thanks, in part, to the home team's defensive rotation led by junior defender
Emma Tumbarello (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. / Rancho Cucamonga). Rodriguez, to her credit, stopped both La Verne shots that came her way to nab her second sole clean sheet of the season. Meanwhile, the Poets are yet to allow a goal through three games this season, an incredible feat heading into the rigorous schedule that comes with being a member of the SCIAC.
With the win, Head Coach
Derek Hanks and the Poets move to 2-0-1 before SCIAC play begins this week. The Poets will be in for a challenge for their SCIAC opener, which will take place at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, one of two regular season unbeatens last season, on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m.
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