SAN DIEGO--- While the actual lightning struck in San Diego two days ago, the #19 Point Loma Sea Lions (7-0-1 overall, 3-0 PacWest) used three lightning-like strikes fifteen minutes apart to put a stormy first half in the rearview mirror, beating the Biola Eagles (3-5-1 overall, 0-2 PacWest) Wednesday afternoon at the PLNU Soccer Field.
The win extends the Sea Lions' PacWest record unbeaten streak to 30 consecutive matches.
"So proud and pleased with the girls, I thought it was our most complete performance of the season," said Point Loma Head Coach
Kristi Kiely. "Honestly, a lot of credit to our midfield. They stepped up today and played the best as a unit all season. Because of it, we created alot of opportunities in front of goal and we executed in the second half."
While the overcast day set the perfect stage, the only lightning came in the quickness of the Sea Lions strikes after scoreless first half.
After 48 minutes of scoreless banter, the Sea Lions found their breakthrough when freshman midfielder
Abby Schmidt delivered a leading through ball that put sophomore forward
Bethany Arabe behind the defense. Arabe faced the Biola keeper Anna Boyer and lined a shot off the top left corner of the cross bar with the ball careening to freshman forward
Alana Diaz, who cashed in the opening goal.
Just over 7 minutes later in the 56
th minute, the Sea Lions doubled the advantage off of corner from freshman defender
Emma Thrapp. Thrapp lifted the service from the northeast corner, just under the cross bar, deflecting the ball off of Boyer and into the net.
"I was just trying to hit it to my teammates on the back post," Centerback
Emma Thrapp reflected. "The goalie was a bit off her line, so I was like 'Hey, why not give it a whirl?'"
Point Loma duplicated the effort less than three minutes later from the southeast corner, this time Thrapp setup Schmidt with the service and the freshman headed into the bottom right portion of the goal, extending the Sea Lions lead to 3-0.
The Sea Lions used another set piece to add a fourth goal in the 82
nd minute.
Kourtney Kessler took the free-kick just outside of the 18', off to the left, and delivered a low cross in the middle of the box to a sliding
Hailey Clifford, who was able to redirect the pass to the bottom right portion of the net.
"When you look at our recent games in the first half, we've played good soccer," Coach Kiely said. "We've created a lot of opportunities, and right now we are finishing in the second half."
Diaz goal was her team leading fourth, while Thrapp and Schmidt each netted their third with Clifford adding her first of the year.
Point Loma will have a week off before hosting Dominican at the PLNU Soccer Field on Thursday, October 14
th at 1:00pm.
