(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Soccer overcame a halftime deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against No. 24 Cal State LA on Thursday afternoon.
"We'd certainly like to avoid being in that spot again, but they showed some resilience and an ability to stay in it mentally," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "We'd like to be on the front foot a bit more and we'll have to work harder and have a little bit more bite in order to do that."
After the undefeated Golden Eagles took the lead in the 29th minute, senior midfielder
Grace Nelson found an equalizer in the 60th.
Priya Torres evaded her defender on the left wing and got to the byline before pulling back a cross to Nelson, whose initial shot was saved but then she calmly placed the rebound into the back of the net to level the score.
"I'm really excited for Grace," Kiely said. "It was good to be able to get her to the 10. We've been needing to use her at the six, and she does a good job there, but she's most threatening at the 10. It was fun to be able to get her up there and glad that she was rewarded for it."
Madison Khan provided a threat on the right wing and nearly had a couple assists, with CSULA's goalkeeper coming up with point blank saves on shots from
Maddy Saruwatari and
Priya Torres.
Saruwatari was dangerous cutting onto her right foot from the left flank and had another promising effort saved by the Golden Eagles' goalie in the closing minutes.
PLNU goalkeeper
Bea Levi made a career-high seven saves to preserve the draw with several coming in key moments, including late on.
"That's what we've come to expect from Bea," Kiely said. "She has the athleticism and the reaction to be able to make those saves."
Point Loma outshot Cal State LA 16-13 in the match, with both teams putting eight shots on target.
PLNU extended its unbeaten streak to four matches (1-0-3) but with only one of those resulting in a victory.
"We're young, that's the reality," Kiely said. "We have three players that were part of the national championship team and everyone else doesn't know what it takes to be at that level. You have to learn sometimes in hard ways to be ready for all the moments that conference play, and if you're lucky enough to make it to postseason, all the moments that those throw at you.
"I'd like us to be able to put it all together. I feel like each game has taught us something. Sometimes we've been able to learn from those moments and sometimes we haven't and today taught us something different. We're working to put it together in conference and I believe that this group can."
Point Loma (1-1-3 overall), who has played three ranked opponents in five matches, plays next at Cal State San Marcos on Saturday at noon.
