California Baptist University
Fresno Pacific
ONE AND DONE
10/13/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- California Baptist head coach Kristen St. Clair was concerned about an emotional letdown coming off Wednesday's thrilling double-overtime win over No. 5 Point Loma Nazarene.
It never happened, and as a result the Lancers parlayed a Lizzy Bendrick goal in the 60th minute into a 1-0 GSAC win over Fresno Pacific Saturday afternoon.
“Our legs weren't there at the start,” said St. Clair. “Mentally, our focus was good, and we needed to be a bit more efficient with our possession to give our legs a break. We played such an emotional game (at Point Loma) and that taxed us a bit. Our recovery time was shorter, but the girls found a way to get it done.”
The win is the Lancers' second straight and sixth in the past seven games as they improve to 10-3 overall, 5-1 (15 points) GSAC. Their lone loss in that stretch is a 2-0 setback at No. 2 Azusa Pacific last Saturday, and today's win gives CBU its tenth straight 10-win campaign.
The Sunbirds fall to 6-4-3, 1-3-3 (6 points).
While it was never in real danger, California Baptist still needed a lift, and Bendrick provided it with what has turned into her trademark strike. Brittany Shea played a ball to Bendrick, who had her back turned to the goal about 30 yards out. The freshman took a touch, turned over left shoulder and ripped a ball over FPU keeper Justine Caldera and into the net for what turned out to be the game's only goal.
“Lizzy has a good sense of where she is on the field,” said St. Clair. “She has a quick turn and a quick shot. There are not many people in this league who can shoot the ball as hard as she does. When she releases the ball like she did on that one today, it's very hard to stop.”
The Lancers out-shot the Sunbirds, 12-4, on the game but neither team had any threatening opportunities in the first half. CBU began to turn up the pressure at the start of the second half and finally broke through with Bendrick's goal.
Meanwhile, the CBU defense shut down every Sunbird build up and allowed just four shots. Emily Evanson needed to make just a pair of saves to notch her second straight shutout.
