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SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Sea Lions defeated San Diego Christian 2-0 Tuesday afternoon at PLNU Field. The win is the second in as many games for Point Loma, which is now just one victory away from equaling last year's total.
PLNU is playing as a team. They are being aggressive while still trying to maintain ball control. Though the Sea Lions were held scoreless over the first 45 minutes, they kept their composure but turned up the intensity and pressure in the second half. The bench remained fired up throughout the entire game, and their enthusiasm paid off.
The Green and Gold had a couple of terrific opportunities early in the second, but were denied by the post and SDCC keeper Cameron Riley. PLNU's Gustavo Jimenez was shaken up during one attempt and was replaced by Erick Melendez in the 65th minute. Thirty seconds later Melendez made a perfect shot 7 yards past the Christian's keeper. Austin Rovanzzini helped with the assist.
Point Loma defense was stingy giving goalkeeper Keith Cline only one chance for a save and kept the ball down the field for most of the game. With tight defense for the remainder of the match and only ten minutes left on the scoreboard, Joaquin Hernandez secured the Sea Lion victory pushing in a goal on a corner kick, shooting the ball directly into the right side of the goal. The corner was sent in by freshman reserve Griffin Fuller.
Senior Macaine Piercy was very proud of the team's performance on Tuesday.
“Our team is very disciplined this year,” he explained. “We don't have any stand out players on the field, but we play as a unit. All of us are on the same page.”
PLNU Coach Tim Hall was excited that his team played so well against the visiting Hawks.
“SDCC is a great team and our boys battled and came ready to play,” he said. “The boys are putting defense and offense together and bringing what we practice to the game. It is a great feeling to shut down San Diego Christian.”
Coach Hall also mentioned how proud he was to see the Hawks coach Danny Salas, a former Point Loma soccer player and top goal scorer, with such a competitive and aggressive team.
San Diego Christian fell to 0-2 on the year. Tuesday's match, though it was against a GSAC rival, did not count as a conference tilt.
The Hawks took five shots, two on goal. One of the on-goal attempts was blocked at the net by a Sea Lion defender. PLNU attempted 16 shots, eight on goal. Cline stopped five shots and there was one stellar team save by SDCC which prevented an earlier score.
The Sea Lions take a few days off before they head up to Salt Lake City, Utah. They will take on Westminster at 4:30 pm Friday and Embry-Riddle (AZ) 2:30 pm on Saturday.
