(SAN FRANCISCO) The dynasty continues.
PLNU Women's Soccer took care of business on the final day of the regular season, routing Academy of Art 4-0 to win its second straight PacWest title and fifth in the past six seasons.
"This conference title has come with a lot of hard work and we are proud of it, but with the addition of the conference tournament it's not fully satisfying," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "We still have work to do and today was another step in that direction."
Point Loma won its final five games of the PacWest season to finish atop the conference standings and earn the top seed in next week's PacWest Championships.
The Sea Lions scored twice less than two minutes into the game, with
Bethany Arabe and
Alana Diaz scoring just 45 seconds apart to get the visitors off to a dream start in the second minute.
"It's always good to get on the board that quickly," Kiely said. "We've played in a variety of games this season and getting on the board early is certainly a better way to play."
Nikki Ross then made it 3-0 going into halftime with her goal in the 27th minute, before
Natalie Clouse rounded out the scoring in the second half, scoring her first career collegiate goal in the 60th.
"I think the most celebrating we did came when Nat scored," Kiely said. "Everyone on the bench ran onto the field momentarily caught up in the excitement. It was such a beautiful and collaborative goal.
Jenna Bisset found Ross, who combined with Nat, who found herself composed in front of goal."
PLNU put together one of the more dominating runs through PacWest play, winning all but one game and keeping shutouts in 10 out of 11 matches.
The Sea Lions clinched their PacWest title just hours after the Point Loma men also claimed the conference crown with a win over ART U, marking the second straight season that the two teams won the league on the same day.
Point Loma (13-2-1 overall, 10-1 PacWest) now shifts its attention to the conference tournament hosted in Irvine at OC Great Park.
PLNU will play fourth-seeded Westmont on Thursday at 4 p.m. in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to Saturday's championship at 5 p.m. against either second-seeded Hawai'i Hilo or third-seeded Concordia.
"It was fun to share the day with our men's team and we will spend a few days preparing for a tough Westmont team," Kiely said.
