(SAN DIEGO) No. 23 PLNU Women's Soccer officially booked a spot in the PacWest Championships with a 3-0 win over Biola on Senior Day, as Point Loma continues to control its own destiny in the conference title race.
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"Senior day this year was full of a lot of players who have played many important minutes, so it's always fun to recognize and honor them," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "We still have goals that we want to be able to hit but I'm pumped that there is the clinching of that, so I'm grateful for that for sure."
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On Senior Day, senior
Bethany Arabe fittingly gave Point Loma the lead in the 30th minute, latching onto a loose ball in the box and curling a right-footed shot into the top corner from just inside the 18. She becomes the sixth Sea Lion to score a team-leading three goals this season.
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Zoe Crockett then gave the Sea Lions a two-goal cushion going into the break, scoring with just 10 seconds remaining in the first half.
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Priya Torres managed to keep the ball in play on the endline, finding
Lily Larez on the left wing to cross toward Crockett, who had ventured forward from her center back position and scored with a clinical, striker's finish.
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"I'm pumped for Bethany to get a goal and for Zoe," Kiely said. "They gave her a lane the whole game and I thought she took advantage of that opportunity, so I was glad for her to capitalize on that opening."
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Point Loma continued to threaten in the second half and was ultimately rewarded with a third goal when
Grace Nelson scored for the first time this season.
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Emma Thrapp smartly took a quick free kick and played
Jordyn Rodriguez on the right flank to cross toward Nelson, who had her initial shot blocked but stayed with the play and found the back of the net on her follow-up effort.
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PLNU's defense kept its third straight shutout and eighth in its past nine games.
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Point Loma (11-2-1 overall, 8-1 PacWest), guaranteed to finish in the top-four of the conference standings, still controls its own destiny in the race for a fifth PacWest title in six seasons.
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If the Sea Lions win their final two games of the regular season on the road, Thursday at Fresno Pacific (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday at Academy of Art (2:30 p.m.), then PLNU will return to its perch atop the PacWest.
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"We recognize that we're in the driver's seat and we can't let up," Kiely said. "We're motivated in those ways.
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"We still feel like there's some tough games ahead on the road. Fresno is a tough opponent and aren't letting a lot of goals in. Academy of Art always has good goalkeeping and will be tough. We look forward to finishing out the season well."
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE