SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma women's soccer team closed out its 2018 regular season home schedule with a 3-1 win over Biola to send its four seniors out as champions.
 
PLNU clinched the PacWest Conference title on Saturday night as a result of a tie between Azusa Pacific and Biola, and they looked a little slow at the start of the match but a goal right before halftime by Taylor Simpkins seemed to wake the sleeping Sea Lions up. One of the seniors, Keagan Bolibol made a good run up the right side and cut into the middle. Just outside the box, she crossed the ball to an open Simpkins on the far side of the box. She collected the ball and deposited it into the left corner of the net for the score in the 44th minute.
 
With the lead in hand, PLNU played better in the second half. Ashlee Watkins extended Point Loma's lead to 2-0 on a header off a free kick in the 74th minute. Abbi Swanson took the free kick and served it into the middle of the box where Watkins headed the ball right past the arms of the keeper.
 
Biola would break the Sea Lions' PacWest shutout streak with a free kick goal in the 80th minute. Sarah Jeffries was able to get the ball over the wall set up by PLNU and right under the crossbar for the score. It was the first goal Point Loma allowed in 10 PacWest matches and 909 minutes of conference play.
 
Julia Glaser would get that goal back for Point Loma in the 85th minute on another assist by Keagan Bolibol. It was her PacWest-leading 13th goal of the season.
 
Emma Hinson had one save in the victory for Point Loma. Viviana Poli made six saves for the Eagles.
 
Team records
Point Loma (14-1-1, 9-0-1 PacWest), Biola (6-6-4, 4-3-2 PacWest)
 
PacWest implications
With the 2018 PacWest championship already in hand, PLNU just added to its PacWest lead in the conference standings. Point Loma's 28 points is 10 more points than even second-place Fresno Pacific. Biola is sixth with 14 points.
 
Words for coach Kiely
On the seniors: "They were remarkable. It is hard to change what you know and what has been good in the past, but they were willing to deal with me and buy-in to the program. They have let me challenge and push them, and I am so pleased with everyone of them. They have all been about the team. They are very happy with this win but they are eager for the next game and beyond."
 
On winning the PacWest Championship: "It was obviously very fun to win, but it was a little bittersweet the way it happened. It was sweet to win but a little bitter because we weren't together. Today's match helped cement that."
 
On staying focused with title in hand: "You never want to go into playoffs with two straight losses. That could be very easy to do given the fact that we are already in. I felt we started the match a little slow, a little less focused but the word at halftime was that there was still a lot to accomplish. I thought played well in the second half and finished strong."
 
On next match at Azusa Pacific: "It will be more of the same message of making sure we make progress every match and every training session. That is the important thing. We would like to win and go undefeated in conference. We are definitely about going on the road and getting the win this weekend."

Scoring summary
43:21 - PLNU GOAL: Taylor Simpkins (Keagan Bolibol) [PLNU 1, BU 0]
73:26 - PLNU GOAL: Ashlee Watkins (Abbi Swanson) [PLNU 2, BU 0]
79:02 - BU GOAL: Sarah Jeffries (unassisted) [PLNU 2, BU 1]
84:13 - PLNU GOAL: Julia Glaser (Keagan Bolibol) [PLNU 3, BU 1]
 
News and notes
> The 2014 PLNU (11-0-1) and Cal Baptist (9-0-3) are the only teams to go undefeated in PacWest play for an entire season
> PLNU has won three of the past five PacWest Championships (2014, 2015 & 2018)
> Glaser is now third at PLNU with 13 goals in a single-season (Christine Glover 15 goals, 2006)
> All four goals Point Loma has allowed this season have come at home
> The two wins over Biola this season moved PLNU ahead in the all-time series (7-6-3)
 
Next match
The Sea Lions will close out the 2018 regular season at Azusa Pacific on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.