WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's soccer team kept creating chances Monday morning, but a quick second-half stretch proved to be the difference at Memorial Stadium.
Sofia Lopez set a new NCAA career high with eight saves, and the Poets outshot Pacific University in the second half, but Whittier fell 2-0 to the Boxers in non-conference play.
The result moved Whittier to 2-2 on the season as the Poets continued their six-game season-opening homestand.
Pacific created pressure early, taking 10 shots in the first half, but Lopez helped keep the match scoreless heading into the break.
The Whittier goalkeeper made six saves in the opening 45 minutes, turning away several chances and giving the Poets time to grow into the match. Behind her, the Poets' back line held firm through a busy first half and kept Pacific off the scoreboard.
Whittier also found chances of its own before halftime.
Mia Cordova put a shot on goal, while
Melissa Tenorio,
Annabelle Allison,
Victoria Martinez, and
Danielle Bard each recorded a shot in the first half. The Poets went into the break tied 0-0 with room to push forward.
Pacific scored twice early in the second half, finding the first goal in the 47th minute and adding another less than two minutes later.
From there, Whittier worked to respond.
The Poets took eight shots in the second half and forced four saves after halftime.
Vivian Martinez put one on frame,
Katherine Correa added another shot on goal off the bench, and
Shelby Page also tested the goalkeeper during Whittier's push.
Page helped provide a spark in the second half, finishing with a team-high three shots in 41 minutes off the bench.
Vivian Martinez added two shots while playing all 90 minutes, and Correa recorded two shots in 19 minutes.
Cordova, Tenorio, Allison,
Victoria Martinez, Bard, and
Bella Lechuga each added one shot as Whittier finished with 13 as a team.
Lopez continued her strong day in goal with two more saves in the second half, finishing with eight total. The mark set a new career high for her NCAA career and helped keep Whittier within reach throughout the match.
The Poets also got another full-team effort across the field.
Vivian Martinez played the full 90 minutes, while Allison logged 81, Tenorio played 79, and
Logan Bays and Lechuga each added 73.
Although the Poets could not find the breakthrough, they continued to generate chances after halftime and finished just two shots behind Pacific overall, 15-13.
Whittier continues its six-game season-opening homestand on Saturday, September 12, against Chapman University. Kickoff is set for 9 a.m. at Memorial Stadium.
