Women’s Soccer: Vanguard at home to open NAIA tourney

The Vanguard University women’s soccer team is home against Cal State San Marcos in the first round of the NAIA Tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lions, who shared the regular-season Golden State Athletic Conference title with Westmont, then lost to the Warriors, 2-1, in the GSAC Tournament final, are the No. 13 seed, after finishing at No. 10 in the final NAIA poll announced Sunday.

Vanguard has outscored opponents, 70-10, this season, and is led offensively by forwards Madison Cody, Jennifer Martin and Madison Lopp.

Cody, a junior transfer from Santiago Canyon Community College, has 15 goals and 11 assists, while Martin, a senior, has 14 goals and six assists.

Lopp, a freshman, has 10 goals and three assists.

Senior goalkeeper Lauren Terry, who along with Cody, Martin and junior defender Ashley McCutcheon are All-GSAC performers, has eight shutouts and an 0.54 goals-against average. She was an All-American in 2012.

No. 15-ranked Cal State San Marcos is on a 12-match unbeaten streak that included winning the Assn. of Independent Instutions conference tournament by outlasting Ashland of Iowa, 5-4, in penalty kicks, following a 0-0 tie.

The Cougars have outscored teams, 33-2, during the unbeaten streak and are led offensively by Paulina Good, who has seven goals and two assists.

The Cougars have received goals from 16 different players.

Goalkeeper Amanda Sears has eight shutouts in 13 games, with an 0.46 goals-against average.

The first-round winners advance to the 16-team final site in Orange Beach, Ala., where the quarterfinals, semifinals and final will be contested, Dec. 1. through Dec. 6.

— Barry Faulkner