Box Score LOS ANGELES, CA: Pomona-Pitzer was unable to overcome two Occidental goals early in the first-half as the Sagehens dropped their third consecutive SCIAC match 2-1.
Occidental (6-6-2, 5-4-2 SCIAC) would only need 111 seconds to open up the scoring for the match as the Tigers found the back of the net off their second corner in the opening minutes. The Tigers would next strike in the 23rd minute off of a defensive miscue by Pomona-Pitzer (8-7-0, 6-5-0 SCIAC) which lead to Michaela Tsuha beating Goalkeeper Corey Goelz on a one-on-one to extend the Oxy lead to 2-0. While making numerous deep runs at the goal, the Sagehens were held scoreless until the 72nd minute when Junior Danika Bethune broke free off of a Nadia Alaiyan pass to net her team-leading eighth goal of the season and cut the deficit to 2-1. Although Pomona-Pitzer would tally three shots on goal over the last eight minutes, the Tiger defense made timely tackles to go with a huge save off of a Bethune shot to hold on for the victory.
"To win the SCIAC, you've got to be able to go on the road and play 90 minutes of complete soccer against the best competition in the league" said head coach Jen Scanlon. "We just put ourselves in too deep of a hole early on and found our chemistry on the offensive side too late to overcome it. While I'm proud of the composure our team showed, we've got to find our touch much earlier in matches in order to put ourselves in the best position for closing out this season the way we want to as a team."
With the loss, the Sagehens find themselves in sole possession of third place in the SCIAC with Occidental and Cal Lutheran only one point back with three matches left in the regular season. As such, the Hens' remaining showdowns with La Verne, Chapman, and Cal Lutheran will have huge postseason implications as they still have the ability to finish anywhere between 1st and 7th.
Pomona-Pitzer will return to action on Saturday as they host La Verne in an 11am match at Pomona-Pitzer Soccer Field. Live coverage for the match can be found on the Pomona-Pitzer Athletics Website.
