California Baptist University
Lindsey Wilson College (Ky.)
OLD KENTUCKY HOME
9/19/2010 4:02:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- From the start of preseason training camp, California Baptist University Head Coach Kristen St. Clair talked about the Lancers' depth.
From the opening kickoff of the season, that depth has been apparent, and it was no different Saturday night. However, the depth that shone through Saturday wasn't from the number of the players that played but rather from the number of players that didn't.
With seven players on the shelf with various injuries, including All-American midfielder Kitra Walters for the second straight night, the sixth-ranked Lancers rolled up their sleeves and went to work and knocked off fifth-ranked Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 1-0, in the final game of the 2010 KELME Classic hosted by LWC.
"This was as gutsy an effort you could expect," said St. Clair, who became the program's career leader in coaching victories last night and added her 52nd career win tonight.
The Lancers played all 90 minutes with just 11 players.
"We wanted to test ourselves and get ready for a difficult conference season, and we got that this weekend, especially playing 180 minutes in 48 hours," said St. Clair. "We're battling injuries, but this was a great opportunity for other players to step up and make an impact."
The win is the Lancers' fourth straight and it is their first shutout since Sept. 1. It is also their second win in as many seasons against the two-time national champion Blue Raiders, whom they also beat 3-1 in Riverside last September. They improve to 6-1 on the season.
The Blue Raiders fall to 4-3.
In a tournament that featured four teams in the top seven in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll, including No. 1 Concordia (Ore.) and No. 7 Martin Methodist (Tenn.), the Lancers were the only team to win both of their games. Concordia and Martin Methodist played to a scoreless draw earlier tonight.
With one All-American sidelined, the Lancers turned to their other one to carry them home. Fabiola Zanella da Silva's goal in the 32nd minute provided all the necessary scoring, and goalkeeper Nicoline Jorgensen and the rest of the Lancer defense made it stand.
"Our defense was superb," said St. Clair. "That unit did a great job, but we were solid from the back through the midfield to the front. This was a great team effort playing back-to-back games against two top 10 teams, and it doesn't get much more challenging than that. It's a great result for us."
The Lancers out-shot the Blue Raiders, 13-11, and Jorgensen came up with six saves to preserve the Lancers' third shutout of the year but first since beating UC Santa Cruz, 5-0, in the season's second game.
In the 32nd minute, da Silva took a ball from Jacquelyn Witz just outside the area and bent a shot over the head of LWC keeper Jordan Morrison for what turned out to be the game's only goal.
"The girls showed good leadership and composure and our will to win was very good," said St. Clair.
