Box Score CLAREMONT, CA. – The No. 3 ranked Pomona-Pitzer Women's Soccer team started their 2021 campaign with a 2-1 win at home over the University of Redlands on Wednesday night at the South Athletics Complex.
The Sagehens were led by juniors Hannah Mandell and Charlotte Tapp who each netted a goal in the win. First-year keeper Taylor Kane got the win in goal as her and junior Naomi Meurice split halves.
Pomona-Pitzer dominated from start to finish against the Bulldogs as they outshot Redlands 12-3 and allowed just one shot on goal. The Sagehens had multiple scoring opportunities in the first half as senior Emily Tomz tried finding her range from outside the box just narrowly missing the goal and even had one shot strike off of the post.
The Sagehens finally found the back of the net after Mandell got on the end of a deflection and chipped the keeper to give the Sagehens a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute of the first half.
As luck would have it, the only shot on goal for the Bulldogs was the equalizer in the first half after a collision with the keeper knocked the ball free and poked into the goal to tie the game at 1-1 in the 24th minute. The Sagehens pressed the Bulldogs to regain the lead in the first half, but Redlands was able to hold off the Sagehen attack and go into halftime tied at 1-1.
Satisfied with their 1-1 score, the Bulldogs tried to park the bus in the second half to prevent the go-ahead goal by Pomona-Pitzer. After knocking on the door for several minutes, the Sagehens broke through as Tapp danced her way down the left wing and lifted a chip over the keeper's head and onto the bottom of the cross bar to net the game-winning goal for the Sagehens and to take a 2-1 lead with just under 15 minutes to play.
Pomona-Pitzer's defense stayed strong in the second half and prevented any chance for a late equalizer from the Bulldogs as the Sagehens opened their season with a win.
Up Next: The Sagehens will next host Cal Lutheran in a non-conference match on Friday, September 3rd at 4:00 p.m.
