California Baptist University
Vanguard University (Calif.)
INTO THE SEMIS
10/31/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Nobody likes to see a soccer game decided on penalty kicks, but that's exactly what it came to Wednesday in the opening round of the NAIA Region II Playoffs.
Fortunately for the NAIA's No. 8-ranked California Baptist, it was just another day at the field.
After playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, California Baptist and Vanguard let the PKs decide it, but the Lancers, who regularly practice PKs, were perfect, didn't miss a kick and won 4-2 to advance to Friday's semifinals.
“The big thing is that we weren't relying on any one kicker to win it for us,” said CBU assistant coach Rob Mouw, who was filling in for head coach Kristen St. Clair while she served her one-game suspension from Saturday's red card. “You have to expect to make it and be confident, and we were because we practice PKs so much. We were ready for the circumstances, and I'm not surprised that we had that much success.”
The game officially goes in the books as a tie. CBU moves to 12-4-2 and will be making its sixth appearance in the regional semifinals since 1999.
Vanguard sees its season come to a close at 8-6-4.
For California Baptist, the tie serves as the perfect dose of revenge as the Lancers avenge a 1-0 setback at Vanguard two weeks ago. As was the case in that game, the Lancers again generated more dangerous opportunities, out-shooting the Lions, 20-12. The Lancers also worked their way to 11 corner kicks, including nine after the first half. Yet, CBU couldn't find the net.
“We definitely had playoff jitters and had trouble establishing good possession,” said Mouw. “We're not used to teams putting so many numbers behind the ball in the defense. We needed to make an adjustment to it and had a hard time doing that. We had our moments and got our shots, just not on frame. We had trouble settling the game down.”
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Emily Evanson, the GSAC's third leading keeper with a 0.70 goals against average, made three saves, including one in the second overtime. However, Vanguard had limited opportunities and couldn't find the net either, thus forcing the penalty kicks.
During the shootout, the Lancers leaned on four of their five All-GSAC honorees as they made all four of their attempts. Vanguard's Kristin Rice started things off with a make, but Monica Lydon answered to tie it up at after the first round.
CBU caught a huge break in the second round when Ivana Mendez sent her attempt wide, and Merrett converted hers to give the Lancers a 2-1 lead. Mallory Olloque put the Lions' third attempt off the crossbar, and Jacquelyn Witz made Vanguard pay, putting the Lancers up 3-1. After Emelia Miller made it 3-2, Lizzy Bendrick sealed the deal for the Lancers.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Mouw, when referring to having to assume the reigns today. “As a coach, you're always nervous on some level, because you don't get to decide the outcome?the kids do, and they did in a big way today.”
The second-seeded Lancers next host fifth-seed Point Loma Nazarene Friday (Nov. 2) in the NAIA Region II Semifinals at 1 p.m.
