ULV winning streak jumps to seven

by Chrissy Zehrbach
Assistant Editor

The University of La Verne women's soccer team added one more win to its record Saturday defeating Whittier College, holding them scoreless 2-0.

The last time the Leopards faced Whittier, they suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss, so the team came out fighting in this round determined to avenge their loss.

After a handful of close calls on failed goal attempts, the Leopards put themselves on the scoreboard midway through the first half. Freshman defender Chelsea Riggins stole the ball from a fallen Poet and took off for a break away goal. She scored off a direct kick that slid past the Poet's diving goalie, Laura Nestler, to make the score 1-0.

Looking to increase their lead, the Leopards continued to shoot. For the game, they outshot their opponents 18-8.

The intensity of the game picked up in the last 15 minutes. Each team was fighting to prove themselves and gain the win.

With ten minutes remaining in the game, Nestler dove again to stop the ball but did not gain control of it. Senior forward Monica Martinez followed up on the shot and put it away increasing the Leopards' lead.

La Verne held on to its lead and kept the Poets from scoring for the remainder of the game resulting in a triumphant 2-0 win.

"I thought they played well. We were aggressive and kept their shots to a minimum," head coach Wendy Zwissler said.

The Leopards had a bye this week. Zwissler said they used the time to rest and recuperate some of their injuries.

But, most importantly, they practiced in preparation for the two remaining conference games against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and the University of Redlands.

"We beat them in the first round,"Zwissler said. "If we keep playing like we have been and keep improving, we'll do well."

When the Leopards faced CMS in the first round of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, they came home with a 1-0 victory. It was also the start of the Leopards winning streak, which has now increased to seven games.

"Our attitudes are really high," freshman goalie Leslie Griffith said. "We've worked hard at practice, and we're earning it as we go."

Game time for the Leopards against Claremont is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ben Hines Field.

The final match of the season against Redlands will be played at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Redlands and may decide the conference champion as the two teams were tied for first going into the last two weeks of play.

"I'm real confident. It won't be easy, but it will be fun," Zwissler said.