SAN DIEGO - Easton Kawawaki and Bella Diaz each scored goals late in the match, in just over a two-minute span, to allow the Point Loma women's soccer team to escape with a 2-0 victory over Chaminade on Monday, Oct. 12.
 
This was the third straight victory for PLNU (8-3-0, 4-1-0 PacWest) and it moved the Sea Lions into a tie with Concordia (CA) and California Baptist for first place in the PacWest standings with 15 points. The loss was the ninth straight for the Silverswords which dropped to 1-9-0 on the season (0-6-0 PacWest).
 
Keagan Bolibol assisted on both Sea Lion goals, nearly on the same play. Both times she dribbled the ball nearly 30 yards up the left side of the field, beat her defender towards the middle and laid a low pass to a cutter across the middle. The first time it was Kawawaki poking the ball in from four yards out to put PLNU on the board 1-0 in the 79th minute. This was the third straight match Kawawaki has recorded a goal. Diaz added an insurance goal for Point Loma on the same play in the 81st minute. It was the first goal of her career.
 
"(Keagan's) role is to get into the offense in that extra wide position," said Point Loma head coach Tim Hall. "She did her job very well and her crosses were spectacular. Our girls also got in behind her to score the goals the way they needed to."
 
Coming off their contest in Fresno on Saturday, the Sea Lions had just six of their normal 11 starters in the lineup and it showed, as they took nearly 60 minutes to find their rhythm, especially offensively.  
 
"This stretch of games in the past 10 days has been crazy and the women are very tired," Hall explained. "In the first two-thirds (of this match) we were just there and then the last 25 minutes we started to play well and have better energy.
 
"I am loving that this team can struggle in the match but find a way to get it back and fight to the end," added Hall. "We needed a victory today and we were able to do that."
 
Once again the defense was the anchor for the Sea Lions. They held Chaminade to just one shot (not on goal) as Point Loma possessed the ball on the Silverswords' side of the field nearly the entire game. Goalkeeper Ariel Oriarte was not required to make a save in recording her seventh shutout in 11 matches this season.
 
PLNU outshot CUH 17-1 in the match, and 12-0 on shots on goal. Six different Sea Lions had at least two shots in the match, led by Kawawaki with three.
 
"Some of our subs stepped up and played very well today," said Hall. "We learned more about them and it was good for us in that regard. They stepped up and did what they needed to help us win today. I am very proud of them"
 
Point Loma will not play again until Saturday, Oct. 17 when they go to Concordia (CA) to face the Eagles at 11:00 a.m., in a battle of first-place teams.
 
"We need to play a good game against Concordia (CA). We have to have energy and know what we are playing for. It is the biggest game of the season for us to this point."