Box Score

SAN DIEGO - PLNU's women's soccer team played through a tough second half to clinch a 2-1 victory, for their first conference win, against Fresno Pacific at home today.
 
The Sea Lions (2-2-0, 1-0-0 PacWest) would control the match in the middle of the park, retaining possession of the ball for the opening minutes of the game. PLNU freshman Jennifer Ballez would open up the scoring in the 12th minute with her second career goal, assisted by Easton Kawawaki. Kawawaki would serve a low cross into to Ballez, who coming down the left side, would one-touch the ball into the back of the net.
 
The Sunbirds (0-5-0, 0-1-0 PacWest) would answer less than 10 minutes later with an unassisted free kick goal over the wall, between the crossbar and the keeper's hand, taken by Brooke Bingham.
 
Both teams returned to the field for the second half with 1-1 up on the scoreboard. Ballez would again see an opportunity but would be unable to finish the one v. one chance, hitting the ball wide of the goal.
 
The Sea Lions would then go down to 10 men and have multiple other chances during the game before another free kick goal would be scored. This time PLNU's Shelby Murphy would put the ball, unassisted, into the back of the net for her first career goal.
 
From there the Sea Lions would battle to keep their lead, taking shots but not finishing any more than two of their 26 total chances.
 
"Mentally I think we just went away," said PLNU head coach Tim Hall, "We're pleased with the victory but not pleased with the overall performance; we've got to find a consistency mentally and we struggled with that today."
 
PLNU's women's soccer team heads away to play conference rival Azusa Pacific on the road one week from today.