(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Soccer put it all together on Thursday afternoon, setting a new season high for goals scored in a 4-0 home win over Biola.
"A lot of credit to Biola in terms of the prep we had to do for them," Head Coach
Kristi Kiely said. "Watching what they've been able to accomplish this season, we knew we had to be ready and because of them and because of our recent results, having the ball is just not enough.
"We've believed in our group, we've believed in our process and every game we were kind of hoping it would come and it hadn't. Today it just feels really good to see the ball go in the back of the net."
After a string of quality performances that weren't rewarded in terms of results, Point Loma found the back of the net at will on Thursday and could have scored even more in its most complete performance of the season.
Kylee Jerome scored for the second straight game to put the Sea Lions in front in the 31st, off a
Juliet Thrapp assist, with her shot from distance finding the bottom right corner of the net.
Maddy Saruwatari then doubled PLNU's lead when
Gianna Masinter's shot was blocked straight to Saruwatari at the top of the box to blast a shot off the underside of the crossbar and across the goal line in the 37th minute.
After leading 2-0 at the half, Point Loma kept pushing forward in the second half, outshooting Biola 12-4 after the break and being rewarded with two more goals.
Saruwatari scored her second of the game in the 68th minute, as
Nikki Ross played
Madison Khan through on the left side to serve a perfect left-footed ball for Saruwatari to head off the post and in.
"Last year she proved to be a player we could count on in the clutch moments and today was no different," Kiely said of Saruwatari. "
Kylee Jerome started it for us, she's a great ball striker, and then Maddy to show up in the ways and moments she did, I'm not surprised. I'm just pleased and say, 'Well done' because that is now the expectation of her."
Ross then rounded out the scoring just over a minute later, with Khan winning the ball back for the Sea Lions on the right win and then laying it off for the senior midfielder to finish first time.
Overall, Point Loma outshot Biola 21-13, including 11-3 in shots on goal.
"Internally, we've felt really good about what we're doing, just around both boxes we hadn't gotten the job done but today we did," Kiely said. "This is a deep, collective breathe for the group but I think it's also a reward of the work that's been done and the focus that the players have had on making sure the work gets done all the way.
"We've learned something in every game that we've played and today we learned that we can score goals and we can deny the ball from going in the back of the net. I'm proud of the group today."
Defensively, the Sea Lions earned their second shutout of the season, as goalkeeper
Cameron Simmons made three saves in goal, including one huge save in each half to hold the Eagles scoreless.
"I think Cam did a really good job on both sides of the ball in her first college game with us, but not her first college game, which helps," Kiely said of the junior transfer goalie. "She comes with a bit of experience in that way.
"Today I thought our ability to secure the ball, to take care of it and then to get on the other end of it were some of the details and sharpness that we'd been lacking in very small moments."
Point Loma (2-2-3 overall) concludes its non-conference schedule on Saturday at No. 14 Concordia. Kickoff in Irvine is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
