Box Score The University of Redlands women's soccer team traveled to Whittier College for Saturday night's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition against the Poets. After netting a first-period goal, the Bulldogs held on to secure the 1-0 victory and return to the win column after a two-game slip.
The Poets orchestrated the first scoring opportunities of the contest, but Redlands' junior goalkeeper Lexi Felix (Kailua, HI) denied their chances by hauling in two saves in the first seven minutes of play.
The Bulldogs retaliated with their own offensive assault, starting with junior midfielder Savannah Laursen's (Boise, ID) shot in the 18th minute. In addition, senior forward Tanya Haggen (Bellingham, WA) unleashed a blast, while junior midfielder Cassie Lively (Redmond, WA) forced the Poets' goalkeeper to make a save to defend her quality attempt.
Redlands' persistence paid off in the 35th minute, just seconds after senior forward Lihini Weerasinghe (Redlands, CA) checked into the contest. Her presence was immediately felt, as she fired off a shot that knocked off the post and bent into the goal for the score.
The Maroon and Gray remained offensive-minded for the remainder of the half, as junior forward Jen Franklin (Shoreline, WA), junior midfielder Summer Norquist (Boise, ID), and Weerasinghe cranked off shots in the final three minutes of the period.
During the second half, the Bulldogs continued with the same attacking intensity. The squad finished the night with 15 shots, which was more than twice that of the home team.
Despite the scoreless second half, the Bulldogs only needed the one score in the first stanza to take home the 1-0 victory.
Felix earned the win, while freshman goalkeeper Hannah Menk (Pleasanton, CA) recorded one save in her second-half performance.
The U of R out-shot Whittier by a 15-6 margin, with eight of its shots landing on frame.
The Bulldogs (4-3-0, 2-2-0 SCIAC) take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (6-2-1, 3-0 SCIAC) on Wednesday, October 1, under the lights at Farquhar Field at 7 p.m.
