(BELLINGHAM, Wash.) Make it four-for-four.
With a 1-0 win over Sonoma State in Thursday's NCAA West Regional First Round, thanks to
Mara Sovde's 28th-minute goal, PLNU Women's Soccer has reached at least the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight full season.
"It might not have been our prettiest performance but this time of year it rarely is," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "It's just about getting the job done and moving onto the next. That's what we did today and for that I'm really proud."
A year after needing 11 rounds of penalty kicks against Cal State East Bay to advance to the Second Round, PLNU only needed regulation this time around.
"We've been here before," Kiely said. "We've been in this game before, playing while a team is waiting, so it's wonderful when you're able to end the game at 90 and try to get some proper rest and get ready for the next one."
While Point Loma has won at least one postseason game in each of the past four seasons, something PLNU hasn't managed to do in that run is get past its upcoming opponent, Western Washington.
The host and second-seeded Vikings, who had a first-round bye, have eliminated the Sea Lions the past two seasons, including in last year's Second Round.
"It's 100% motivating," Kiely said of matching up with Western Washington once again. "We will need to game plan well because they're going to be ready and they get to be at home. They'll be fully rested and fresh so we're going to have a tall task ahead of us, but we have a very capable and a very motivated group."
Sovde's first-half goal ensured Point Loma had another chance against its West Regional foe.
After
Zoe Crockett was fouled 35 yards out,
Emma Thrapp took a quick free kick, whipping in a ball to Crockett at the back post that caught the opposing defense off-guard.
The PacWest Freshman of the Year then directed an effort on goal, which was saved initially but straight into the path of Sovde who thumped in the rebound.
"I thought Thrapp made a great assessment on the goal to recognize that they weren't set up early enough," Kiely said. "We took advantage, between Zoe and Mara being able to finish the job. I'm really proud of that awareness."
After leading 1-0 at the break, Point Loma had a host of other chances in the second half, outshooting Sonoma 9-5.
Bethany Arabe forced a save with a shot from the corner of the six-yard box, while
Olivia Shaw had a close-ranged effort blocked.
Sovde rattled the crossbar from 30-plus yards out, with the ball ricocheting off the bar and the goalkeeper's back before somehow managing to stay out.
It didn't matter though, as Sovde's first-half goal held up thanks to a stout Sea Lion defense, led by PacWest Defender of the Year
Lauren O'Malley.
"Lauren continues to lead tremendously well from the back and is kind of willing us along," Kiely said.
In her first postseason appearance, freshman goalkeeper
Julia Pinnell made five saves to preserve PLNU's fourth-consecutive shutout.
Point Loma (13-2-4 overall) will be hoping for more of the same on Saturday against Western Washington, an opponent the Sea Lions are 0-3-2 all-time against.
"We prepped for Sonoma, got the job done, and we'll be looking to do the same against Western," Kiely said. "They're always a tough side, but it's even harder when you're a bit fatigued. I think our girls are mentally ready for the challenge and physically we'll try to recover and get ready for the next day."
PLNU and WWU tied earlier this season, 1-1, on Sep. 6 in San Diego. The Vikings won last year's Second Round matchup 1-0, the same scoreline by which they beat the Sea Lions in the Third Round in 2019.
Kickoff for Saturday's Second Round matchup is scheduled for 3 p.m.
