California Baptist University
Bethel University (Tenn.)
LANCERS BURN BETHEL
9/5/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The NAIA's No. 7-ranked California Baptist University tucked away two goals in each half to roll past No. 18 Bethel (Tenn.), 4-0, on a hot Friday afternoon in Riverside.
The win is the Lancers' second straight as they improve to 3-1 on the season. The Wildcats fall to 0-2-1.
Billed as a showdown between nationally-ranked teams, the Lancers scored twice in the first 15 minutes and then piled it on as an undermanned Bethel began wilting in the heat.
“Our girls are used to playing in this type of heat and we were able to capitalize on their fatigue and the mistakes they made because of the fatigue,” said second-year head coach Kristen St. Clair. “We had some great finishes today and are beginning to make some very good strides and that is good to see.”
The first good finish came in the fifth minute when All-American Jacquelyn Witz put home here fifth goal of the season from a nice combination. Kylee Nicassio swung a ball into the box from the right side and Lindsey Merrett flicked it to Witz, who one-timed it into the net.
Less than 10 minutes later, Fabiola da Silva scored her first goal of the season on a brilliant free kick from the right side. Her perfectly place kick went over the head of Bethel keeper Jackie Gardner and banged off the far post and into the net.
CBU controlled the run of play the entire 90 minutes and ripped off eight shots before the Wildcats were even able to get off one. The Lancers ended up out-shooting the Wildcats, 22-4, on the afternoon.
“This was a good game to gauge ourselves on a national stage, playing against a nationally-ranked team from out of our region,” said St. Clair. “It was a pretty big result for us, and we were able to rest some legs, which is good since we have a match tomorrow.”
Leading 2-0, All-GSAC Lindsey Merrett put the icing on the cake with a pair of nice goals just five minutes apart late in the game. Her first strike came in the 78th minute when she put home a rebound off an Amanda Lammers shot. Then in the 83rd minute, she did it all herself when she carried the ball down the field and fired a shot from 30 yards out that went past Gardner, hit off the far post and into the net.
Emily Evanson and Brittany Buchanan needed to make just one save to combine on the Lancers' second shutout of the season.
For the second straight weekend, CBU has to turn right around in less than 24 hours as they battle Ohio Dominican (5-0 losers to Azusa Pacific today) Saturday at 3 p.m. on Lancer Field.
