(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Soccer booked its spot in the PacWest Tournament championship with a 3-0 semifinal victory over Hawai'i Hilo on Thursday.
Kylie Garcia scored twice for the third-seeded Sea Lions before
Zoe Crockett rounded out the scoring against the second-seeded Vulcans.
Garcia gave PLNU the lead in the 28th minute after
Maddy Saruwatari's cross was headed away only as far as the PacWest Newcomer of the Year, who calmly took a touch before blasting her right-footed shot into the back of the net from 15 yards out.
A couple crunching tackles from
Abby Buys won the ball back for the tournament hosts, with
Nikki Ross playing Saruwatari out wide to cause havoc for PLNU on the left wing as she did all afternoon long.
Garcia then gave Point Loma a perfect start to the second half, doubling Point Loma's lead just two-and-a-half minutes after play resumed.
Saruwatari's cross from the left corner found
Jenna Bisset on the opposite side to serve a first-time ball back in toward Garcia, who flicked her header up and over a diving goalkeeper and inside the far post.
The Sea Lions then made it 3-0 through Crockett, who met
Grace Nelson's corner kick at its highest point and powered a header into the back of the net in the 66th minute.
Crockett anchored PLNU's backline that kept its second-straight shutout and ninth of the season, as goalkeeper
Julia Pinnell made three saves, all coming in the first half.
Point Loma (9-3-5 overall) now advances to play Dominican on Saturday at noon on the PLNU Soccer Field, with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA West Regional.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
