California Baptist University
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Catching Fire
9/14/2013 11:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Looking for its first win on the new season, the California Baptist University women's soccer team came out with determination and grabbed a blazing 6-0 victory over visiting Claremont Mudd-Scripps.
"We're getting better every game," said head coach Kristen St. Clair. "We've played one of the hardest non-conference schedules to prepare for conference and CMS is one of the best teams in NCAA Division III. Our play on both sides of the ball is really starting to come together and we're getting sharper every day."
The Lancers, who improve to 1-3 on the season, dominated much of the action and outshot their opponent 30-5, with four goals in the first 20 minutes of action. Bernadette Witz and Kelly Jenks each knotched a goal and an assist a piece, with Kimberly Allard adding two more assists.
"The girls did a great job creating those goal opportunites and did it so quickly," said St. Clair. "We've been working on starting a little quicker and we created many dynamic opportunities in the first 10 minutes, which against a good team is not easy to do."
Jenks lit the fire in CBU's attack by scoring off a header in the first two minutes. Bernadette Witz sent a cross soaring into the box from the left side of the field, making contact with Jenks forehead to find the back of the net.
Less than six minutes later, the Lancers struck again to take a 2-0 lead. Samantha Myers sent a rolling ball across the 18-yard box, finding Lindsay Vesling who was able to slip it past CMS' goalkeeper.
"Our ability to possess and create dangerous opportunities in the final third was a highlight for us," said St. Clair.
In the 12th minute of play, Allard knocked a lofted cross into the box, connecting with Jenks' head once again. Jenks redirected the ball back toward the goal, over the Athena goalkeeper, giving Bernadette Witz the opportunity to tap it into the open net and give CBU its 3-0 lead.
CBU capitalized again in the 20th minute off a weighted through pass from Allard to lead Jasmine Stokes. CMS goalkeeper Molly Freed came out to cut down the angle, but Stokes took a touch past the diving goalkeeper to easily slot it into the net and put the Lancers up 4-0, which would remain the score until halftime.
The Athenas, who drop to 1-2-1 on the season, came out in the second half hoping to create some chances for themselves, but came up short as the Lancer defense continued to shut them down.
With plenty of time left in the game, the Lancers were not ready to back off and notched their fifth goal of the game in the 74th minute. Rachel Witz sent a cross in off the corner, finding Kristen Witchey's head to put CBU in front 5-0.
Natosha Yanes put the final nail in the coffin as she stripped an Athena defender from the ball and dribbled around the CMS goalkeeper to score the final goal of the game in the 87th minute.
CMS had one last shot to put itself on the board in the final seconds of the game, but once again the Lancer defense held fast to keep the cleansheet, backed by goalkeepers Leigh Ann Lindsey and Rosie Nakata, who combined for the shutout.
"Defensively, we were tight and good," said St. Clair. "Overall, it was a good team performance."
The Lancers kick off PacWest action on Thursday, heading to San Francisco to face Academy of Art. CBU will be back at home on Sept. 28.
