Women’s Soccer: Lions sustain setback
When it comes to facing disappointment in soccer, it’s not an if, but a when. So, when the Vanguard University women’s team that had trailed for only 20 minutes this season coming into Saturday’s battle of top-10-teams, dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Concordia, one might have wondered whether the Lions would display any signs of withering.
Not likely, said Coach Randy Dodge, whose No. 10-ranked Lions, having allowed just one goal previously this season and having gone nearly 600 minutes without being scored upon, saw the No. 7-ranked Eagles seize the lead in the 33rd minute.
“We had just as many chances as they did, we just didn’t put them away,” said Dodge after his team, off to its best start through nine matches of any team during his nine-season tenure, fell to 8-1-1, 1-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play. “I can’t be disappointed with our effort or our play.”
And while the shot totals reflected only a 21-19 advantage for Concordia (7-2-1, 1-0-1), the Eagles’ play was consistently superior to that of the Lions this time around.
“I would say that we executed and played to our strengths,” said Concordia Coach Chris Gould, whose team tied The Master’s College, 1-1, in its GSAC opener on Wednesday. “We were very much committed to sticking to our strategy and just making sure we worried about our own execution. I think the girls did a great job of it.”
The Eagles became only the second team to score on Vanguard — the first being defending NAIA champion Concordia of Oregon, which earned a 1-1 deadlock on Sept. 5 — when junior forward Alexis Garcia-Irons booted in a cross from senior Lauren Nanez.
The Eagles doubled the lead in the 55th minute when sophomore defender Lizette Luna leaped to head in a driving corner kick from sophomore Natalie Werner.
Concordia’s scoring chances typically involved walking in on senior goalkeeper Lauren Terry, with little defensive pressure, then firing away, usually driving shots wide or high of the frame.
Terry, an All-American in 2012, had no chance on either of the goals. She finished with four saves.
Vanguard, which had outscored its first nine opponents, 35-1, tested Concordia sophomore keeper Jazmin Alvarez, who compiled nine saves.
Junior forward Cody Madison and junior defender Ashley McCutcheon led the Lions with four shots apiece. Senior forward Jennifer Martin, freshman forward Madison Lopp and senior midfielder-forward Liliana Ruiz all took three shots.
Lopp, whose eight goals this season share the team lead with Martin, had one of the Lions’ three best chances late in the first half.
Lopp ran onto a through ball from Martin to create a one-on-one opportunity with Alvarez, who charged out to make a sliding save of Lopp’s shot from about 13 yards in front.
“You can’t ask for anything more than that [chance],” Dodge said.
Martin lined a shot from 25 yards out off the crossbar in the ninth minute and Cody banged a shot from close range off of a charging Alvarez late in the game.
Dodge said nothing has changed for his team, which he vowed will continue to contend for a GSAC regular-season title.
“Without a doubt [the Eagles, whom Vanguard does not play again in the regular season] are going to come back tot he pack,” Dodge said. “There is no way they are going to run away with the conference title. Bottom line: It’s us, Westmont and Concordia [contending for that title].”
Vanguard played without starting freshman defender Jessica Taukeiaho, who sat out with a strained groin, Dodge said.
The Lions return to action Saturday, against GSAC visitor Arizona Christian at 1 p.m.