(CHULA VISTA, Calif.) Gianna Masinter scored her first collegiate goal late in the first half to lift No. 1 PLNU Women's to a 1-0 win over Central Washington on Saturday at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center.
 
Masinter headed home the lone goal of the game at the back post in the 45th minute off a perfectly lofted cross from Alana Diaz, who picked up her second assist in as many games.
 
"I'm happy for Gianna scoring her first college goal," Head Coach Kristi Kiely said. "Alana did a great job to make that happen as well."
 
The lead was well-deserved for the Sea Lions, who thought they'd scored earlier in the half when Alyssa Ketcham found the back of the net, but the ball was ruled to have crossed the end line for a goal kick just before Diaz crossed it.
 
Soon thereafter, Lily Paulson found Nikki Ross, whose half-volley ricocheted off the post and out.
 
Masinter then scored what proved to be the game-winner with PLNU's 12th and final shot of the first half.
 

Gianna Masinter scores in the 45' to give PLNU Women's Soccer a 1-0 lead over Central Washington at the half.#GoSeaLions pic.twitter.com/J22vgAZY0v

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 7, 2024

 
"I think we did a really good job of creating a lot of real quality opportunities, which is what we're looking for and looking to improve in," Kiely said. "This prepared us in a different way for the need to break down the opponent in different ways and keep the ball moving quicker.
 
"We'll look to grow from that. We got some players in and some individuals did really well."
 
The Sea Lions outshot the Wildcats 12-1 in the first half and 20-2 overall in the match. Neither of Central's shots remotely threatened Point Loma's goal, as the 1-0 wasn't indicative of the control PLNU had on the game.
 
"Our defenders did a good job of making sure we kept control of the ball and then they had to do less of their job in the actual defending," Kiely said. "Julia Pinnell stayed really sharp. That's one of the hardest things to do as a goalkeeper is to stay sharp when you haven't had the ball or you haven't seen a lot of action.
 
"There was one opportunity they had where she had to be sharp and I thought she did a good job there."
 

PLNU Women's Soccer shuts out Central Washington.#GoSeaLions pic.twitter.com/6OtsXdpzTA

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 7, 2024

 
Point Loma (2-0 overall) returns to game action on Thursday at Cal Poly Pomona. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

"I do really appreciate Central's flexibility and being willing to come down and having to play on a different field," Kiely said. "I thought their game plan was good and we had to work for it in a very different way.
 
"It was really important to get the goal. I wish we could've added a few more but we'll continue to learn and grow."

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