Box Score

SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma women's soccer team faced one of its toughest home test of the season when Dixie State came to town on Saturday (Oct. 25), but it was the Sea Lions that emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over the Red Storm.
 
This was the ninth straight win for PLNU (10-2-0, 9-0-0 PacWest) which sits atop the Pacific West Conference by four points over second-place California Baptist (7-0-2 PacWest). The win was also key as it gave the No. 10 regionally ranked Sea Lions a quality victory over another regionally ranked opponent. Dixie State (7-7-1, 5-4-0 PacWest) came into the match ranked No. 9 in the regional poll.
 
"That was a big, big, big game for us in the course of the season and in conference," said Point Loma head coach Tim Hall. "It was battle today but we showed some grit and were able to come out on top against a very good team."   
 
Shelby Murphy notched the match's first goal off a rebound in the 64th minute to give the Sea Lions the lead. Sami Swanson took a shot from the left side which hit the crossbar and went almost straight down, allowing Murphy to fly in parallel to the ground with a header to put the ball into the back of the net.
 
Just nine minutes later Sami Swanson gave Point Loma an insurance goal to go on top 2-0. Amanda Mitchell led a Sea Lions' counter attack with numbers and she split the defense, passed into the middle to Kaiti Freeberg who touched the ball over to Swanson at the right of the box and she beat the goalie to the left for her third goal of the season.  
 
"The goals we got today in run of play rather than in set pieces were really good," added Hall.
 
The Point Loma defense was also on display as it recorded its sixth straight shutout. The Sea Lions have not allowed a goal in the last 564:21. Ariel Oriarte had four saves for PLNU, while Danica Nusick also made four saves for the Red Storm.
 
"We are walking out of here on a good note with a spark in our step but also humble about next week and knowing we still have to take care of business," said Hall.
 
The Sea Lions will host two matches next week to close out their home schedule. Notre Dame de Namur (4-10-1, 2-6-1 PacWest) will be in town on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 3:30 p.m. PLNU will then host Holy Names (0-11-1, 0-7-1 PacWest) on Saturday, Nov. 1 as part of Senior Day starting at 1:30 p.m.