California Baptist University
4-3-2, 0-0-0
University of Portland
5-2-3, 0-0-0
Lancers Draw Against the Pilots in Portland
9/21/2024 10:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
PORTLAND, OR --- The California Baptist women's soccer team headed north to Oregon this weekend to face the University of Portland on Saturday evening and came away with the squad's second draw of the season. The competitive and chippy match ended as a 1-1 tie after Rilee Harmon scored a 57th-minute equalizer to avoid a pointless road trip. The Lancers move to 4-3-2 on the season, while the Pilots are now 5-2-3 on the year.
"Portland is one of the top teams in the WCC and we knew this would be a great final non-conference test prior to conference play," remarked Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. "I thought each team had their chances in the first half and then second half, we had the better run of play and scoring opportunities. Mikayla made some key saves for us as well. What a great team goal on the build up and happy for Rilee, scoring her first CBU goal. We're getting better each week and excited for WAC play to begin."
After a slow start that saw Portland getting into their final third heavily, California Baptist found their footing and got a few shots off in the first 20 minutes to test the Pilot goalkeeper. A set-piece opportunity for CBU almost accounted for the first goal of the match after Mia Scranton struck a lofted ball that carried to the top post and nearly found the back of the net, but the Portland goalkeeper managed to make a fingertip save to keep the match level at zero. Moments later, an unfortunate touch by the CBU defense on a Pilot corner kick resulted in a goal, giving Portland the lead heading into halftime.
Both teams returned to the pitch fired up for the next 45 minutes, and it showed with good opportunities created by both squads in the first ten minutes of the second half. It was the Lancer's efforts that paid off in the end after Kaylee Hauck battled in the left corner and found Sophia Petrov, whose cross over the box allowed Lauryn White to lay-off a perfect ball to Rilee Harmon to put in the back of Portland's net. The equalizer upped the ante for both teams, thus creating a much more chippy match than the first half. The Pilots lead that affair after collecting eight fouls on the evening to CBU's four through 90 minutes. Mikayla O'Brien continues to prove her skills between the posts and totaled five saves on the evening, including a pair of one-v.-one that she shut down to keep the match level.
The Lancers will return to Riverside this week and gear up for Western Athletic Conference play that begins on Saturday evening against Southern Utah. Prior to the match, CBU will honor its 12 seniors on the team with a Senior Night ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.
Team Stats
0
GOAL by POR TEAM.
27:55
Rilee Harmon (1)
Assisted By: Lauryn White , Sophia Petrov
GOAL by CBU Harmon, Rilee Assist by White, Lauryn and Petrov, Sophia.
56:13
