California Baptist University
Grand Canyon University
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
10/27/2011 12:48:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Grand Canyon scored twice in nine-minute span early in the first half and never looked back in a 3-1 Pacific West Conference win over California Baptist University Wednesday afternoon.
The loss snaps the Lancers' 12-game unbeaten streak and seven-game winning streak as they fall to 12-2-1 overall, 8-1-1 (25 points) PacWest. It is their first loss since Sept. 3 and drops them into a first-place with the Antelopes, who improve to 9-4-2, 8-1-1 (25 points).
The Lancers could have clinched no worse than a tie for the PacWest title with a win.
Today's result now sets up a likely winner-take-all showdown Saturday in Phoenix when these two teams play again with the winner likely winning the PacWest title.
The Lancers outshot the Antelopes 20-14 but could only manage to put three shots on frame. Meanwhile, GCU put eight of their 14 between the pipes.
"We were uncharacteristically inefficient," said CBU Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. "The fatigue of traveling may have caught up to us but no excuses. Grand Canyon deserves the credit, because they were the better team today."
CBU actually struck first and had the better of the play in the first 10 minutes and appeared to be on its way when Kimberly Allard scored just 5:33 in. Kylee Nicassio played a low cross in from the left side that Fabiola Zanella da Silva flicked across to Allard, who punched in her 10th goal of the season.
In fact, seven of the Lancers nine first-half shots came in the first 21 minutes.
Just two minutes after Allard's goal, the Lancers generated two more great chances to increase their lead but failed to convert, and as is usually the case if you don't convert your chances early, you'll get stung later.
And that's exactly what happened today.
"We had good moments and had good chances, but just weren't sharp," said St. Clair. "You can't afford to do that against a good team. This is a good learning experience. Against good teams you have to finish the chances you get or it will hurt you."
The Antelopes quickly equalized on Gabrielle Zaval de Rojas's first goal of the season in the 14th minute when she had a nice individual effort getting the ball on her left foot in the box, cutting back to her right and then beating PacWest Player of the Week Nicoline Jorgensen to the far post.
In the 23rd minute, Julia Anglin slid onto her fourth goal of the season that turned out to be the game winner.
Both teams fired off nine shots in the first half, but five of the Antelopes' nine were on frame. Jorgensen made three saves.
Jessica Lincoln gave the Antelopes a big insurance goal in the 72nd minute, and while the Lancers outshot the Antelopes 11-5 in the second half, they were unable to put another into the back of the net.
