California Baptist University
Biola University (Calif.)
PUTTIN' ON THE WITZ
10/24/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The NAIA's No. 17-ranked California Baptist isn't quite sure what else it can do to impress the raters and get its due.
So, the Lancers just keep doing what they've become accustomed to this year?win.
Just hours after the Lancers dropped from No. 13 to No. 17, inexplicably swapping places with Point Loma Nazarene, despite having a better record than and defeating the Sea Lions earlier this year, CBU took out its frustration on Biola, posting a 2-1 victory over the Eagles Wednesday afternoon.
After not scoring for nearly a month, Jacquelyn Witz scored for the second straight game. She also assisted on the game-winner.
“This wasn't our most technically clean game, but good teams find a way to win,” said first-year CBU head coach Kristen St. Clair. “They found a way to get this one done today.”
The win is the Lancers' eighth in the past 10 games as they improve to 12-4 overall, 7-2 (21 points) GSAC, assuming sole possession of second place in the conference. The Lancers are ahead of both Concordia (12-3-1, 6-2-1 and No. 8 in today's rankings) and Point Loma Nazarene (10-4-1, 4-3-1 and No. 12), both teams they have beaten this year, yet still trail in the rankings. In fact, with the Lancers' win today, the Sea Lions have no chance at catching the Lancers.
“Momentum is key and you always want to peak at the right time,” said St. Clair. “We are out of our routine a bit with the fires, but the girls have kept it together and fought through this.”
Biola drops to 3-11-2, 1-6-2 (5 points).
The Lancers ripped off 20 shots and held the Eagles to just seven. Witz got things started in the 25th minute when she headed home Monica Lydon's service off a free kick. Lydon sent the ball into the box from the left side, and Witz tucked her header inside the far post, her ninth goal of the year.
“(Jacquelyn) Witz does so much for us both on the stat sheet and off it,” said St. Clair. “She is a dangerous player that creates so many dangerous chances. She has been great for us all year.”
Just three minutes after Witz's goal, though, the Eagles knotted things up. Brandi Johannsen lofted a free kick from 40 yards out over the head of CBU keeper Emily Evanson and off the crossbar. Kahlie Reinecke ran onto the rebound and slipped in her third goal of the season.
Almost exactly 10 minutes after the Eagles tied it, the Lancers answered. Witz carried the ball down the left sideline and sent a cross into the box. Lindsey Merrett ran onto the cross and found the back of the net for her team-leading 12th goal of the season.
The Lancers continue their impressive first-half play as 22 of their 31 goals this year have come in the first 45, outscoring their opponents 22-6.
If not for the fine play of Biola keeper Lauren Gregston, the deficit could have been bigger. Gregston made seven key saves, including a handful of the impressive diving variety, to keep her team in the game.
