Women’s Soccer: Lions compile blowout
It wasn’t any perceived slight in the rankings that put the thorn in the Vanguard University Lions’ paw. But Coach Randy Dodge didn’t mince words when assessing the motivation behind his women’s soccer team’s 5-1 Golden State Athletic Conference triumph over The Master’s College on Tuesday.
“In my estimation, we got killed until we got scored on,” said Dodge, whose No. 14-ranked Lions rode their only first-half shot to a 1-0 lead that vanished on the No. 11-ranked Mustangs’ lone shot after halftime. “But once we got scored on, we got [ticked].”
What followed was a Vanguard onslaught that led to four goals in the final 13:01 that left Dodge beaming with pride.
“It’s a statement win,” Dodge said of the Lions’ fourth straight victory, but its first over a ranked opponent this season. “I mean we played 18 kids today who were absolute warriors. I can’t speak enough about how proud I am of these players.”
Vanguard, which was outshot, 9-1, before intermission, took 11 of the 12 shots from that point on to improve to 12-1-1, 5-1 in conference and climb into a second-place tie with No. 9-ranked Biola. Both Vanguard and Biola are one point behind No. 5-ranked Concordia, which handed Biola its first conference loss Tuesday with a 4-1 thumping. Concordia handed Vanguard its only loss this season with a 2-0 decision at Vanguard on Sept. 27.
Vanguard, despite entering the week with only one team in the country possessing more wins, and despite having played defending NAIA champion Concordia of Oregon, now ranked No. 3, to a 1-1 tie in Oregon early in the season, is looking up at four GSAC teams in the rankings.
“I don’t think the kids pay any attention to it,” Dodge said of the rankings. “But it’s motivation for me. Westmont is the ranker and [Coach Kristi Kiely] has protected her [No. 12-ranked team]. But I didn’t complain and I’m not going to complain, because, you know what, at the end of the day, it all gets worked out on the field.”
The Lions gave the scoreboard operator a workout in the closing minutes Tuesday, beginning when senior forward Janell Koide knocked in a rebound near the goal line after a header from junior Ashley McCutcheon that ricocheted off TMC goalkeeper Jessica Zubia just one second shy of the 77th minute.
Less than five minutes later, senior forward Jennifer Martin converted an assist by Madison Cody, who scored the game’s first goal, to put the hosts comfortably ahead.
But the discomfort continued for the Mustangs, who saw Vanguard freshman forward Madison Lopp score in the 85th minute, then again with six seconds remaining to accentuate a season in which the Lions have now outscored opponents, 55-6.
“Did [the Mustangs] get another shot after they scored?” Dodge asked rhetorically. “No. Everything after that was in their half of the field; Everything was down their dish. And you are talking about a [The Master’s] team that is ranked and will probably go to nationals. That is a team that is very good.”
Madison finished with a goal and two assists to up her team-leading point total to 32 (two points each for her 11 goals and one for her team-leading 10 assists.)
Martin, whose 12 goals lead the Lions, now has 28 points.
Lopp, who now has 10 goals, upped her point total 22.
Senior Liliana Ruiz punched a through ball onto a streaking Cody’s foot for the initial assist, while freshmen Nicole Dunn and Natalie Devries also collected assists for the winners.
Senior keeper Lauren Terry had a single save behind a defense that featured back-liners Jessica Taukeiaho and Erica Wadell, both freshmen, as well as senior Makenna Yarbor and junior Angela Hook.
TMC seniors Katie Farris and Natasha Coyle, both of who were All-GSAC performers last season, combined on the Mustangs’ goal in the 60th minute, when Farris popped in a low cross from the right wing by Coyle.
It was the fourth straight victory over TMC (9-4-1, 4-2-1) for Vanguard, which visits Biola (11-2, 5-1) on Saturday at 4:30 and plays host to Westmont (9-3, 4-2) on Oct. 22.