Box Score

SAN DIEGO b- Point Loma breezed past Bethesda Saturday 4-0 in the first round of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) West Regional playoffs. With the win, the Sea Lions set up a showdown with PacWest rival Azusa Pacific with a berth to the NCCAA National Championships on the line.
 
Dottie Rhoten scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season, and senior Leah Porter scored her first collegiate goal in the final home game of her Point Loma career as the Sea Lions improved to 10-7-1 on the season. Meanwhile, the visiting Flames fell to 4-11-1.
 
Seniors Kaycie Hanlin and Codi Cameron each added a goal in the second half, and sophomore Natalie Swift tallied two assists in the team's most dominant effort of the season.
 
PLNU fired a mind-numbing 33 shots during the contest, though only seven were on goal. Meanwhile, the staunch Sea Lions defense did not allow a single live-play shot attempt; Bethesda's only shot attempt was a free kick in the 38th minute that sailed high over the crossbar.
 
Ariel Oriarte racked up her second career shutout in as many games. Because PLNU dominated possession in the midfield, the freshman goalkeeper was not tested, only touching the ball a handful of times throughout the match.
 
The Sea Lions had all the momentum from the opening whistle. Their aggressive offensive play resulted in 17 shots in the first half alone, but it took until the 35th minute for Point Loma to get on the scoreboard.
 
Junior Claire Mathews played a pass over to Cameron near the right corner. Cameron one-touched the ball to Rhoten in the middle, who found herself with only the keeper to beat. The freshman then sent the ball into the top right corner of the net, and the Sea Lions took a 1-0 lead heading into the half.
 
In the 64th minute, Porter lined up to take a free kick several yards out to the left of the box. Her kick rocketed directly toward the goal. A Bethesda defender tried to deflect the ball out with her head with no luck, and Porter pushed the Sea Lions' lead to 2-0.
 
Point Loma would tack on two more scores in the next 15 minutes. Cameron knocked in her second goal of the year off a cross from Swift in the 74th minute. Then five minutes later Hanlin tapped in PLNU's final goal, stretching out her left leg to redirect a cross from Amanda Mitchell.
 
The Sea Lions will travel up to Azusa Thursday for a grudge match against the Cougars in the NCCAA West Regional Final. On Nov. 9, the Sea Lions upset the PacWest-champion Cougars 2-0, handing APU their only conference loss of the season.
 
Whoever wins Thursday's match will receive a berth in the NCCAA National Championships in Kissimmee, Fla. The kickoff time for Thursday is yet to be determined.