(SAN DIEGO) No. 13 PLNU Women's Soccer fell behind four times against Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday afternoon but managed to pull a goal back each time before eventually claiming a 5-4 win in a nine-goal thriller.
"It was certainly not how we drew it up," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "I think we're leaving thankful for the win, but extremely dissatisfied with our performance."
PLNU Women's Soccer did not concede multiple goals in a single game in either of the last two seasons and hadn't allowed more than the three goals top-seeded UC San Diego scored in the 2018 NCAA West Regional during Kiely's illustrious tenure.
Cal State San Bernardino managed four on Saturday on just four shots on goal (seven shots total).
But Point Loma showed plenty of mettle and showcased an ability to win in even the most unideal of circumstances, including falling behind in the first minute.
After the Yotes scored just 48 seconds into the match,
Mackenzie Kimmel equalized just seven minutes later in what was a cracking start to the game.
Bethany Arabe's cross was headed by an opposing defender but only as far as
Alana Diaz, who nodded it down to Kimmel to score her first Sea Lion goal from six yards out.
The visitors re-took the lead in the 25th minute before Diaz tied up the game once more.
Mara Sovde played a long diagonal ball through to Arabe, who crossed the ball across the face of goal for Diaz to slam home with her right instep.
In the 40th minute, CSUSB regained its advantage for a third time after launching a long free kick into the box that the Sea Lions failed to clear. From there, the visitors seemed to surely take a lead into the break before a pair of PLNU freshman connected in the 42nd minute to make it 3-3 at the half.
Emma Rogers drove a low free kick that found
Zoe Crockett, who slotted home first time to open up her collegiate goal-scoring account.
Then just like in the first half, the Yotes scored within a minute of the start of the second period, converting a long-ranged effort that was helped in by the gusting wind on PLNU Soccer Field.
Rogers then turned provider once more, as her 57th-minute corner kick was turned in by
Lauren O'Malley at the back post to level the match at 4 apiece.
Point Loma continued to push forward in search of its first lead of the game, which it finally got in the 71st minute when Crockett scored her second of the match, this time off a header from an
Emma Thrapp corner.
"Zoe's had a big week," Kiely said. "She had an assist in the Western Washington game and then two goals today. They were really important ones. I'm proud of her, especially working herself back into it right away from injury."
PLNU's three set-piece goals were a just reward for the repetition the Sea Lions have put in in practice.
"We earn a lot of set pieces, and we talked this week about needing to capitalize on more of those," Kiely said. "We're pleased there."
The visitors nearly found their own equalizer with just over two minutes remaining, but the Sea Lions were able to see out the win.
Despite the impressive offensive display, PLNU could have scored even more, hitting the post a couple times and forcing multiple fine saves out of the CSUSB goalkeeper.
"We had a good attacking presence to create a lot of opportunities with 24 shots," Kiely said. "I still feel like we can clean it up because I think there were still a few left undone that were probably ones we should've capitalized on as well."
In addition to the team's offensive production, another positive to take from the win was the return of First Team All-PacWest defender Thrapp, making her first appearance of the season in the second half after returning from injury.
"Thrapp brings experience with her," Kiely said. "That lends itself to hopefully us being in a better spot defensively as a unit. She can help with that. We love being able to get Mara forward. Mara has done a tremendous job at center back, but we need her higher up the field. We're thankful that Thrapp is working her way back."
Point Loma (3-0-1) returns to PLNU Soccer Field on Wednesday to take on preseason ranked No. 20 Sonoma State at 2 p.m., in what is drawn up to be a tantalizing West Region matchup.
"There's not a lot of time to get ready for Sonoma and they'll be tough," Kiely said of a team Point Loma has yet to play during her tenure. "It's fun to see somebody new, so we're excited about that. But we know that they're going to be high-pressing, aggressive, and the game is going to be very transitional. We'll need to sharpen up."
