SAN DIEGO – The Sea Lions went up early and held on late in a 3-2 victory over visiting Southern Oregon Wednesday afternoon at PLNU Field.

Point Loma Nazarene scored three goals in quick succession over a six-minute span in the first half of the non-conference tilt, including two scores by Carly Rivera and a long-distance blast from Krista Gregory. The Raiders made it interesting, though, with two second-half goals but PLNU would hang on for the win.

The Sea Lions upped their season mark to 3-0 with the win while SOU's record now stands at 1-1.

Both of Rivera's goals were the products of corner kicks. The first, in the 31st minute of play, came off a corner by Katie Pedlowe. The ball went past the Raider box and was headed by Jessica Van Loo to Rivera standing in perfect position in front of the goal.

Just one minute later the Sea Lions sent in another corner. The corner by Gregory was again headed by a PLNU player, this time Claire Matthews. Once again, Rivera was in the right place at the right time and knocked home her second goal of the match.

Then, at the 37-minute mark, Gregory charged down the heart of the pitch and crushed a shot from at least 30 yards from the SOU net. The ball spun into the right corner of the goal to give PLNU a 3-0 lead.

At the time the 3-0 lead, and the way that the Sea Lions seemed to be controlling the action, it seemed as if the game was well in hand.

The Raiders had other thoughts.

The visitors came out in the second half on a mission. SOU's Stephanie Carr took a cross from Alexis Mahoney and put the ball into the PLNU net in the 55th minute. The Raiders kept up the pressure outshooting the Sea Lions 9-3 in the second.

Southern Oregon made the score 3-2 in minute 81 after Julie Zamzow broke free down the field and dished out a perfect pass to Denise Powell for a point-blank goal.

The game was nearly a tie but Loma netminder Tiffany Kracy made two outstanding saves late to preserve the win.

For the game SOU outshot PLNU 13-12 and had a 7-6 shots on goal advantage. Kracy made five saves to three from Raider keeper Jessica Kuehlwein.

The Sea Lions host Saint Martin's (Wash) this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.