WHITTIER, Calif. – On Wednesday night, women's soccer outshot La Verne 13-11, but a goal from the Leopards in the 49th minute was the difference as the Poets were bested 1-0.

Aleena Galvan and Victoria Martinez threatened the Leopards all night. Galvan took three shots, with two on frame, while Martinez attempted two shots, both on goal.

Through the first 23 minutes of the match, the ball barely left the Leopards' half as Whittier created plenty of chances. The Poets had five shots within that span to La Verne's one. Galvan and Martinez each put one on target.

La Verne turned up the pressure, forcing Whittier goalkeeper Sofia Lopez to make a save. The Poets controlled the rest of the half, creating three more chances to close the period. Nena Resendiz Saldiva took Whittier's final shot with seconds remaining off a free kick. The ball bent off Resendiz Saldiva's foot toward the top right corner. Just as it looked like the Poets were about to take a one-goal advantage, the ball rattled off the crossbar.

Whittier led in the shots category, 8-3, but had nothing to show for it as the match remained tied, 0-0.

Seven seconds into the second half, Galvan forced another save from the Leopards' goalkeeper. Moments later, in the 49th minute, La Verne's fourth shot of the game found the back of the net, and the Poets had to play catch-up, down 1-0.

The momentum from the goal gave the Leopards life on the offensive end. They took six more shots the rest of the game, while Whittier fired off four. The Poets hit the woodwork again on one of those attempts and were once again inches from scoring.

Whittier will look to rebound against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. Catch all the action on FloCollege.

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