Claremont, Calif. - Sofia Garcia scored with 45 seconds left in the first half, and the Whittier Women's Soccer team held off consistent Pomona-Pitzer pressure in the second half for a 1-0 win on Saturday at Pomona-Pitzer Soccer Stadium.

With the win, the Poets improve to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the SCIAC, while the Sagehens see their record fall to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the SCIAC with the loss.

(pictured: junior midfielder Charlotte Fisken wins a header in the first half)

Pomona-Pitzer held a 17-6 edge in shots and a 5-1 edge in corner kicks for the game, but Whittier was able to capitalize late in the first half to account for the only goal. Corinne Cleveland started the play from outside the penalty area near the right sideline, as she sent a diagonal cross to the far side. Garcia was shoulder-to-shoulder with a Sagehen defender and was able to fight her off and one-time a shot from 15 yards into the upper-left corner.

The second half saw Pomona-Pitzer hold an 11-2 edge in shots as Whitter sat back to protect its lead. Goalkeeper Shanna Falch came up big 10 minutes into the second stanza, as she made a diving stop on senior forward Claudia Zaugg (San Diego, Calif.), then got up to save the rebound from junior forward Allie Tao (Alamo, Calif.).

The Sagehens had one final quality chance with about six minutes to go as freshman Ying Fry (San Francisco, Calif.) whipped a cross to the far post. Sophomore midfielder Nicole Quilliam (Menlo Park, Calif.) sprinted in from the weak side and dove at full extension to try to get a foot on it from inside the six, but the ball just skipped over her leg and out of bounds for a goal kick.

Falch finished the day with six saves to get the shutout for Whittier. Pomona-Pitzer used both of its freshman goalies, as Annie Wedel (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) started and had three saves, while Helena Epps (Santa Cruz, Calif.) played the second half and had two saves.

Pomona-Pitzer returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Occidental for a 4 p.m. contest.