SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Rachel Witz has developed a knack coming through in the clutch for this Point Loma women's soccer team. Today this junior midfield notched the game-winning goal in the 58th minute to lift No. 7 regionally ranked PLNU to a 1-0 win over Dominican (CA) on Thursday, Nov. 5.
 
This was the seventh 1-0 victory of the season for the Sea Lions which improved to 13-4-0 with the victory. PLNU also stays tied with Azusa Pacific for first place in the PacWest standings with a 10-2 record and 30 points. Point Loma holds the tiebreaker over APU in the PacWest standings by virtue of its head-to-head win earlier this season. Dominican (5-10-2, 5-6-1 PacWest) is seventh in the PacWest with 16 points.
 
Witz broke the scoreless tie on some beautiful passing between herself and Easton Kawawaki.
 
"Easton Kawawaki and Witz connected on some give-and-go passing at the top of the box and Witz got in 1v1 with the goalie and slotted the shot home," explained Point Loma head coach Tim Hall. "It was just a beautiful goal."
 
Witz has now scored three goals and assisted on three others this season. Each of these points has led directly to a win for PLNU. She has three game-winning goals and assisted on the lone goal in three 1-0 victories for the Sea Lions.
 
The Point Loma defense would take it from there, as the Sea Lions recorded their 12th shutout in 17 contests this season. For the fourth straight matches Oriarte was not required to make a save in the shutout. The Sea Lions extended their shutout streak to 476 consecutive minutes.
 
"Our defense was phenomenal in the second half," said Hall. "It is the whole team, not just our back-four and Ariel (Oriarte). It starts with our forwards up high all the way to the midfielder and to the back. The girls had a great team defensive effort all game.
 
"The girls played really well today in both halves," Hall continued. "They possessed the ball and controlled the game.
 
This was a tough victory for PLNU on the road as it had to battle for every shot it got against a quality Penguin team.
 
"Dominican is a really tough team," explained Hall. "They are coached very well. They are a scrappy and physical team that is really hard to beat. This is not an easy place to get a win."
 
Point Loma will now face Holy Names on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 11:00 a.m. with a chance to clinch its second consecutive PacWest title on the line.
 
"Tonight we are going to let the girls enjoy the win but tomorrow we are going to start prepping for Holy Names," said Hall. "The women know what they need to do and what this game means. I don't think there will be any extra motivation necessary because the light is shining in their faces pretty brightly and these women are hungry.
 
"We are not going to just walk through Holy Names," he added. "They have given the teams they played real runs and they are going to be a dangerous team. We have to be ready to play."