WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's soccer team fell to Occidental College, 1-0, on Wednesday evening despite a strong second-half offensive effort. The Poets outshot the Tigers, 8-1, after halftime but were unable to find the equalizer.
Both teams recorded three shots in the opening 20 minutes, but neither could break the deadlock. Whittier goalkeeper
Sofia Lopez turned away an early shot on goal to keep the match scoreless.
Adina Johnson generated two opportunities within a two-minute span, but both attempts sailed wide.
As Whittier pushed for the opening goal, Occidental capitalized on an opportunity of its own, finding the back of the net with 10 minutes remaining in the first half to take a 1-0 lead.
Aleena Galvan was inches from tying the game, but her shot ricocheted off the crossbar.
One final push in the 44th minute from Whittier's
Annabelle Allison ended in a save by Occidental.
Whittier entered halftime trailing, 1-0.
The Tigers opened the second half with a shot that sailed over the crossbar, but the Poets quickly began applying pressure.
Mia Cordova recorded a shot on goal in the 54th minute, forcing another save from Occidental.
Whittier continued to generate scoring opportunities throughout the second half, earning four corner kicks while searching for the equalizer.
Cordova took another shot that seemed to be bending into the top shelf of the net. In the blink of an eye, the Tigers goalie flew to reach it and denied the tying goal.
Whittier had one final opportunity from a corner kick in the 88th minute but was unable to convert.
Despite outshooting Occidental, 8-1, in the second half, the Poets could not find the equalizer and fell, 1-0.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m., the Poets will look for redemption as they head to Orange, Calif., to take on the Chapman University Panthers.
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