(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Soccer scored two goals in the first 15 minutes to comfortably beat MSU Denver, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon.
"We challenged them in a few different ways, specifically in and around goal, and they met and exceeded every one of those challenges," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "I appreciate their response. It would've been very easy to be down after Saturday, and they were, but I think the response today was positive. We're trending in the right direction."
Nikki Ross nearly scored just 20 seconds into the game, with her long-distance shot hitting the crossbar and somehow staying out, but it didn't take much longer for the Sea Lions to get on the board.
Just 7:03 into the match,
Kylie Garcia scored her first Point Loma goal to give the hosts an early advantage.
Grace Nelson's corner kick was flicked on by
Juliet Thrapp to
Zoe Crockett beyond the back post to head the ball across the six-yard box to Garcia, who had her initial shot saved but converted the rebound from close range.
Ross then doubled PLNU's lead seven-and-a-half minutes later with a clinical, curling finish from the top of the box.
Nelson won the ball back for the Sea Lions and played it out wide to
Alyssa Ketcham, who squared it to Ross to take care of the rest with the inside of her right foot.
"Obviously you love to go up early when you can and kudos to the group for being really sharp in those moments," Kiely said.
Maddie Khan nearly made it 3-0 when her header was saved off the line by a Roadrunners defender, before
Lily Larez's header from a Garcia cross went just over the bar.
PLNU continued to look dangerous in the second half, with Thrapp forcing a save off a Nelson corner and Ross hitting the crossbar again.
No other goals were needed, however, as the Sea Lions defense recorded its second shutout in three games.
Julia Pinnell made four saves in goal to preserve the clean sheet.
"Unfortunately we've struggled with a little bit of injury, so our back line has looked a little bit different almost each match and that's not an easy thing to do when you're trying to work as a unit," Kiely said. "I want to give them credit for their ability to keep a clean sheet, and I thought Jules had a good match."
Point Loma (2-2-1 overall) returns to the PLNU Soccer Field on Saturday to host Fort Lewis at noon.
"They'll be a team that won't be easy to break down and we'll have to be very sharp yet again," Kiely said. "I thought the group started sharp today. That's been our work-through, is doing well for 90, and we were closer today."
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
