California Baptist University
Westmont College (Calif.)
ORDER OF MERRETT
11/1/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Lindsey Merrett scored her second career hat trick to lift the NAIA's No. 6-ranked California Baptist University to a 3-0 win over No. 18 Westmont Saturday, helping the Lancers clinch second place in the GSAC and giving head coach Kristen St. Clair her first career win over her alma mater.
“It was a good day, especially for our seniors,” said St. Clair. “You always want to do well against people you know. Westmont is a class act and a good team. Our girls worked really hard this week and their effort was outstanding today.”
The win is the just the Lancers' fourth win ever over the Warriors and first since 2004. They improve to 14-3-1 overall, 8-1-1 (25 points) GSAC, coming within one win of a school-record for wins in a season with at least one more game to play. The 2003 team holds the record with 15 victories, but needed the postseason to achieve the feat.
“It's a three-fold season for us?the preseason, regular-season and postseason, and one builds on the next,” said St. Clair. “The record is a nice compliment to the player's hard work, but it also puts us in a position to do well in the third part of our year, which is the postseason. We're not satisfied with the most wins in school history. We would like to get the most wins in the postseason in school history as well, too.”
The Lancers are the second seed in the upcoming GSAC Tournament and host Fresno Pacific Tuesday (Nov. 4) at 2 p.m.
The Warriors fall to 7-7-2, 6-3-1 (19 points).
The Lancers, who were without the services of two starters (Jenelle Jennings and Fabiola da Silva) and two key players (Lizzy Bendrick and Katy Harris), had just 10 total shots, five of them on frame. Merrett had just three shots, all them in the back of the net.
“Lindsey scored three goals in a position she hasn't played in much of this year,” said St. Clair. “She's adapted well and done what we've asked her. Three goals is good any day, but especially against a nationally-ranked team and in a position you're not necessarily used to. She leads by example, and she led us to the win today.”
Merrett got things started in the 23rd minute. Giannina Loza collected the ball on the left side and whipped a cross into the box. Merrett controlled it off her chest, put it on her foot and tucked away her fifth goal of the season.
The Lancers carried the one-goal advantage into the locker room.
In the 70th minute, Diana Ravenda and Merrett hooked up for a classic give-and-go in the middle of the field. Merrett then beat Warrior keeper Roxanne Love for her second goal of the game.
Less than three minutes later, she finished off the hat trick and put the game on ice. Loza sent a through ball to the left side. Ravenda ran onto it and one-timed a cross to the far post. Merrett was there on the receiving end and easily beat Love for her 25th career goal to move into ninth place on the Lancers' career scoring chart.
Emily Evanson made eight saves, six in the second half, to collect her sixth shutout of the season.
It was the final regular-season home game for a trio of seniors as the Lancers honored their graduating seniors?Merrett, Adriana Ramirez and Brittany Shea.
“Our seniors went out today and put together a fantastic performance?Merrett with the hat trick, Shea helping with the shutout, and Ramirez setting the tone in the middle,” said St. Clair.
