(SAN DIEGO) On Senior Day for No. 16 PLNU Women's Soccer, it was a freshman who gave the Sea Lions a 1-0 win over visiting Hawaii Pacific on Saturday.
Lily Paulson scored her first collegiate goal in the 26th minute which proved to be the difference for Point Loma (10-2-4 overall, 5-1-2 PacWest), who ended a streak of three matches without a win.
"We had one job to do and we did it today," PLNU Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said of the win. "It might not have been our best performance but we've talked about it all week, having one job to do and we hadn't been able to. Whatever it looked like today, however it needed to happen, it happened."
Right back Taylor Christenson served a ball into the box that was punched a way by the Sharks' goalkeeper, but only into the path of left back
Naomi Ellis. Ellis then whipped in a service to Paulson, who expertly chested the ball down before striking a left-footed shot just inside of the right post.
"I'm proud of Lil for taking the chance," Kiely said. "She's been good around the box and in helping contribute to our attack, so I'm excited for her to get her first collegiate goal."
That goal was all that was needed for Point Loma, the top-ranked team in the West Region, as the Sea Lion defense preserved its sixth shutout of the season.
"The backs have been tremendous this year but haven't been rewarded for that in terms of goals against," Kiely said of her team's defense. "They're so important to what we do, having the ability to keep clean sheets and contribute significantly to the attack."
Point Loma outshot Hawaii Pacific 16-4 for the game, including 10-1 in the first half, while holding 63% of the possession.
Although the final score does not accurately reflect PLNU's statistical domination, it still proved to be a valuable win for the Sea Lions after consecutive ties earlier in the week.
"It was desperately important," Kiely said of the win. "Not for any other reason but to get back to confidence, composure and more of who we are."
Not only did the victory end a winless streak but it also properly honored the three seniors –
Chase Bibbey,
Mackenzie Kimmel and
Alison Pepper – who were recognized before the Senior Day game.
"It's not often that with a group you have one word that can describe all of them, but resilient is certainly it," Kiely said of the three seniors. "They've come back from or had to work through different things and they've done so with tremendous resilience.
"I'm very proud of them for that and for what they've done for this program. I'm grateful for their time here and for the legacy they're leaving."
That legacy includes how they have impacted their younger teammates, including Paulson.
"Words can't even describe how much they've impacted the confidence I have and how I want to play for them," Paulson said. "They've been so encouraging and it's such a good culture with them. We all play for each other; it's not an individual thing. I do it for them and they do it for me."
Point Loma, who reached double-digit wins for the fourth-straight full season, now hits the road for its final two matches of the PacWest schedule – against Academy of Art on Thursday (10 a.m.) and Dominican on Saturday (2:30 p.m.).
The Sea Lions will hope to hold on to second place in the PacWest and continue to make its case for an at-large bid into the NCAA West Regional after No. 9 Hawaii Hilo officially clinched the conference title on Saturday with its win over Azusa Pacific.
"This is such a big win," Paulson said. "It gives us the confidence to keep pushing and even when we face adversity, we just have to keep going."
