Box Score CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Women's Soccer team completed the SCIAC double as they earned the 2021 SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship with their 2-0 win over Cal Lutheran on Saturday afternoon at the Pomona-Pitzer Soccer Field.
With the win, the Sagehens earned both the regular season and postseason SCIAC Championships and improve to 15-1-2 overall. Defender Hanna Kim was awarded the SCIAC Postseason MVP who anchored the Sagehen defense in both wins in the tournament.
The Sagehens had two different goal scorers in today' win as Charlotte Tapp and Anna Ponzio found the back of the net, both of which were assisted by striker Hannah Mandell. Naomi Meurice got the win in goal for the Sagehens while her and Taylor Kane split time in goal and combined for the Sagehens' 12th shutout of the year.
How It Happened
Cal Lutheran tried desperately to get an early goal against the Sagehens but had trouble connecting the final piece of their attack in the Sagehens' defensive third. Pomona-Pitzer weathered the early flurry of attacks from the Regals and got the go-ahead goal in the 19th minute of the match after Mandell turned and laid the ball off to Tapp who hit a worldie of a goal first time to beat the keeper and give the Sagehens a 1-0 lead in the first half.
Pomona-Pitzer was content with their one-goal lead as they kept the Regals at bay for the remainder of the first half and went into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The Regals made some adjustments out of halftime and really pressed their attackers down the field. Cal Lutheran did a great job of keeping the ball in the Sagehens' half of the field but strong defense from the Sagehens cleared away any potential goal scoring opportunities. During the Regals' attack, the Sagehens cleared the ball to the Cal Lutheran backline and the Sagehens setup their own high press. The pressure on the backline forced the Regals to turn the ball over in an opportunistic position for the Sagehens. Mandell was able to take the pass and turn to find Ponzio streaking down the left wing and then a perfectly slotted ball across goal gave the Sagehens a 2-0 lead in the 66th minute of the match.
Pomona-Pitzer had a comfortable two-goal lead, but the Regals didn't go away quietly. Cal Lutheran had two one-on-one opportunities against Kane in the second half. The first one was sent away nicely by the keeper who came out to meet the attacking player while the second opportunity was flick past her but senior defender Ciannah Correa was there to clear the ball off of the line.
Despite the late offense from the Regals, the Sagehens were able to keep Cal Lutheran off of the board and clinched their second-straight SCIAC Tournament Championship.
Up Next: The Sagehens will await the selection show to find out where they will be playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
