California Baptist University
Dixie State
Up, Up and Awai
9/27/2014 3:59:00 PM | Women's Soccer
ST. GEORGE, Utah — After completing what may have been the toughest nonconference schedule, facing top teams in the NCAA Division II West Region, California Baptist University felt prepared to open PacWest action Saturday afternoon. Despite storm clouds on the horizon, the Lancers and Red Storm battled it out with CBU walking away victorious, 2-1.
CBU improves to 3-5 overall, 1-0 in the PacWest, while the Red Storm fall to 2-4-1 and 0-1 in conference.
"Dixie State is a good team," said head coach Kristen St. Clair. "Playing on the road is an acquired skill, this was a good win for us. If we want to get to the postseason, we have to perform in conference so this is a good start. I was proud of the girls for finishing the game well."
Rachel Witz gave the Lancers the first shot of the day in the 13th minute, sending a header just off target, but it wasTambrie Awai who broke the scoreless streak. After a DSU defender committed a hand ball in the 18-yard box, Awai converted the attempt to put CBU on the board 1-0.
"Tambrie was calm and collected when she finished her penalty kick with ease," said St. Clair.
Fresh off the bench, Jasmine Stokes gave the Red Storm a scare just minutes before halftime, but Dixie State's goalkeeper made the save to keep the score within one at the break.
The Red Storm came out aggressive in the second half, but couldn't quite create any dangerous chances in the opening minutes.
Ten minutes into the second half, DSU committed another costly mistake as a Red Storm defender took down Justene Kesterson in the box. Audrianna DeGraw stepped up to the penalty spot and placed the ball with ease into the back of the net to give CBU a 2-0 cushion.
"Justene did a good job to isolate herself from her defender," said St. Clair. "She had just beaten the defender when she was taken down from behind for the penalty. Audrianna stepped up this time and calmly finished the PK."
Dixie State answered back in the 80th minute as Darian McCoy rocketed off a shot into the far upper-90 to cut the Lancers' lead to just one.
"It was a nice goal," said St. Clair. "You don't see those often. Sara [Escobedo] did everything she could, but as a goalkeeper, there's not a lot you can do about those."
With wind back in their sails, the Red Storm turned up the pressure in the last 10 minutes, but Sara Escobedo and the Lancer defense stood firm. In the last minute of action, DSU earned a free kick 25 yards out, but Jasmine Arollo sent it sailing up and away from danger to give CBU the 2-1 win.
CBU returns home to rest up and prepare for another away swing, this time crossing the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands. The Lancers will play four games in eight days, beginning with Chaminade on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6:00 p.m. PST.
"All of the Hawaii teams are good so it'll be a great challenge for us," said St. Clair. "We'll take this momentum and apply it at practice so we can put in the preparation for those games. It's a long trip, but we'll put in more work this week and focus on what we can control so we're ready for it."
