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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – It was a very flat start to a year with high expectations. On Tuesday afternoon the NAIA No. 2-ranked Sea Lions played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer with visiting San Diego Christian in a non-conference match at PLNU Field, opening 2010 with a tie.
PLNU was coming off an incredible run at the 2009 national tournament, but looked didn't look like the same squad on Tuesday. The Sea Lions took 14 shots all game, eight on goal. However, most of those attempts were low-percentage shots from long distances.
“This team played way beneath their ability level,” said PLNU Coach Tim Hall. “The best thing I can say about this game is that we didn't lose.”
Some credit has to go to SDCC and their defense which prevented PLNU from set pieces. The same could be said about the Green and Gold D as well.
Scoreless through the first half and deep into the second, maybe the best chance of the day came for the Hawks. PLNU keeper Tiffany Kracy came out to stop a charge by SDCC but didn't quite get to the ball fast enough. Hawk forward Sarah Le got a piece of the ball before colliding with Kracy. The ball spun away from the two players who were now on the ground and rolled slowly towards the Point Loma net. Both sides could do nothing but watch, the ball finally bouncing gently off the post and out of bounds.
The match ended up going into overtime and then another before the two sides came away with a scoreless tie. The Hawks took just three shots all day, one on goal.
SDCC used two netminders. The first, Katelyn Ogle, made three saves while substitute Emily Garbaz stopped four shots. PLNU's best chance, an open netter by Gina Shulte was saved by a Hawk defender that got her body between the ball and the goal in the 93rd minute of play.
PLNU takes a few days off before they travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to play Westminster College at 11:00 am on Friday, September 10.
“I am very disappointed,” said Hall. “Thankfully, it's a long season. We are going to get this turned around. First thing that is going to happen is that the girls are going to get fit. It's back to boot camp for them.”
