Lions score big win

COSTA MESA — There were plenty of harrowing moments that followed, but, as per the pattern this season, the Golden State Athletic Conference women’s soccer game between host Vanguard and Cal Baptist basically ended when the Lions scored in the 20th minute.

Vanguard has lost only once when it has scored this season. And, since dropping its season opener, 2-1, to Dominican, Coach Randy Dodge’s squad is now 8-0-3 when finding the net.

“When you have that 1-0, it’s a mental thing,” Dodge said after his team, ranked No. 18 in last week’s NAIA poll, improved to 8-3-3, 3-2-2 in the GSAC by posting its eighth shutout of the season. “We could just sit back and focus on defense a little more.”

And there was plenty of defense on display from the hosts, for whom sophomore goalie Jillian Foss made six saves, including one spectacular stop in the 39th minute that was the worst of a steady stream of offensive frustration for the Lancers (10-4, 5-2).

“In a nutshell, that save gave our team confidence that [a goal for Cal Baptist, which had outscored foes, 25-10, coming in] wasn’t going to happen on our watch,” Dodge said.

Foss, a transfer from San Diego State, said she anticipated a blast from Lancers senior forward Vanessa Wellman , which allowed her to dive to her right and deflect the ball just wide of the far post.

“Randy told us before the game that [Wellman] liked to turn and shoot,” Foss said. “So, I was on my toes getting ready for her to do that. As soon as I saw her set up, I just already knew to take off and that’s how I got it.”

Junior co-captain Emelia Miller helped Foss guide a back line that included freshmen Kristin Rice and Kaitlin McGhee Tuesday, as the Lions staved off seven corner kicks, 16 shots and a handful of crosses that, had they found Cal Baptist players, might have tied the game at any point.

“[Cal Baptist] is a very good offensive team,” Dodge said. “And once we went ahead, [the Lancers] became a little more passionate about what they were doing.”

Rice, who triggered her team’s scoring sequence, also made a game-changing save, retreating behind Foss, who had charged out of the goal, and then booting away a shot that had gotten by Foss and was headed for the net. Rice cleared the ball just before it crossed the goal line.

A solid strike off the right foot of Rice from about 45 yards straight out, caromed out of the grasp of Cal Baptist ’keeper Emily Evanson, who appeared to be making an easy save, as she attempted to gather the ball into her chest. But the ball popped free and freshman Christy Horning was there to take advantage, poking the ball into the net from near-point-blank range for the game-winner.

“It was a goalkeeper mistake, but those have happened to us,” Dodge said. “First, the shot had to get to the keeper, and we also had to follow up. [Horning] did have the follow up, so that was big.”

The victory was also big for the Lions, who, without senior co-captain Cassandra Rodeiro (broken toe) and with freshman forward Danielle Dintino (who leads the team with seven goals and two assists) still not at 100% due to a sprained ankle, started slowly in the rugged GSAC.

Vanguard dropped conference games to No. 6-ranked Point Loma Nazarene, 1-0, and No. 10-ranked Concordia, 4-0, while absorbing road ties against Biola and Fresno Pacific.

The 2-2-2 conference start dropped the Lions from the national top-25 poll released today, Dodge said.

“This is the first time we’ve been out of the poll this year, and [Cal Baptist] took our place,” Dodge said. “Now, it looks like we’ve knocked them out and we’ll go back into the poll next week.”

Vanguard, which starts seven freshmen, also received strong play from freshmen Erika Barlow, Ivana Mendez, and Stephanie Steffes, as well as sophomores Jenna Lindsey and Hanna Lovbrand, and junior Katheryn Romero.

“We put up another shutout, which is awesome,” Dodge said.

“It was definitely an entire defensive win there,” Foss said. “Everybody stepped up to play. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].