California Baptist University
Biola University (Calif.)
TUESDAYS AT BERNIE'S
11/2/2010 11:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Bernadette Witz scored two goals in a five-minute span, and third-seed California Baptist University avenged one of its four losses Tuesday with a 3-1 win over sixth-seed Biola in the opening round of the GSAC Postseason Tournament.
"Bernie was very dynamic today," said CBU Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. "She created chances for her teammates and herself. This team has some good depth on it, so it can be someone different every game, but today, she was our engine in the middle that got us going."
Witz scored in the 28th minute and then doubled the lead in the 33rd minute.
The win moves the ninth-ranked Lancers (13-4-1) into Friday's semifinals where they will travel to seventh-ranked The Master's, which defeated Westmont, 1-0, in overtime today. It will be another chance for the Lancers to avenge a loss as the Mustangs defeated the Lancers, 4-1, earlier this year.
Biola's season comes to a close at 6-5-6.
"The players were excited for this one, not only because it was playoff soccer, but also because they wanted to have a better performance against Biola this time around," said St. Clair, referring to the Eagles' 2-1 overtime win over the Lancers Sept. 25 in La Mirada. "It was a good, complete performance against a pretty good team."
The Lancers dominated the run of play most of the day and out-shot the Eagles, 17-8, including an 8-2 margin in the first half when they took control of the contest. They took one of the two first half corner kicks in the 28th minute. Beth Johnson knocked a ball to the far side of the area. Jenny Kute headed it right to the feet of Witz, who was charging down the middle of the field. An unmarked Witz then hammered a shot the far post and into the net for a 1-0 Lancer advantage.
It was all Witz on the second goal. She gathered a loose ball right in the middle of the Biola half. Witz then sliced and diced her way through a handful of Biola defenders to the left side of the area and then ripped a left-footed shot past reigning NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Erin Frushon and inside the far post.
That margin stood for the next 53 minutes until Ashley Richardson put the final nail in the coffin in the 88th minute when she hammered a cross from Jacquelyn Witz high to the near post. It was Richardson's second collegiate goal and Witz's 90th career point.
Biola's Sam David scored 31 seconds later to keep the Lancers' Katie Rumfola from getting her second consecutive clean sheet.
The Lancers' three goals are the most Biola has given up this year. They also gave up three in a 3-1 loss at Azusa Pacific Oct. 9.
CBU's unbeaten streak is now stretched to six as they improve to 5-0-1 since Oct. 12, beating three nationally-ranked teams during the stretch. They are 6-1-1 since Oct. 6.
"We are getting healthier and reading the game better," said St. Clair. "The postseason is a whole new season, and we're peaking right now. This team has playoff experience, and our timing is getting better, and our performances are becoming more consistent. We're getting better every day, which is what you want to do."
