REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team posted their first shutout of the season Saturday night as they pulled off the 2-0 victory over the University of La Verne under the lights at Farquhar Field.
The Bulldogs have now improved to 1-1 and now enter conference play next week carrying momentum. Graduate Student Eva Vlassopoulos (Portland, OR) added the insurance goal in the second half, making it back-to-back contests she has found the back of the net. Junior keeper Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA) also had a huge game collecting the shutout by playing 82:30 minutes while totaling a couple saves.
Post Game Interview with Courtney Stewart & Eva Vlassopoulos
The Maroon and Grey had their opportunities early, totaling four shots and three corner kicks in the first 16:00 minutes of action. Alanna Farrington (Sammamish, WA) took the first shot missing high, Peyton Fendrich (Clackamas, OR) and Vlassopoulos then got into the mix soon after forcing Leopard keeper McKenzie Maggiore into a pair of save opportunities. But it wasn't until the 14:51 mark when UR created a corner kick opportunity that they would capitalize on as Tristen Sherley (Novato, CA) would find Fendrich back post for a header finish that proved to be the eventual game winner.
But the Bulldogs weren't done there as they would continue to pour on the offense with Vlassopoulos tacking on another two shots and Malia Kuhl (Sammamish, WA) with another. Then down the stretch Redlands added another six shots heading into the half.
After four quick shots in the opening twelve minutes of the second half, the Bulldogs found themselves facing a ULV attack that covered over ten minutes. Stewart was called into action to pick up a couple of huge saves, one of which was punched up and over the crossbar and the other off a back post header.
However, this was the only push mustered by the Leopards, as Vlassopoulos added the cushion in the 80th minute. She connected on a long drive from outside the box and finished top shelf that brought the Bulldog faithful to their feet.
Despite a push by the Leopards in the second half, the Bulldogs still controlled from start to finish, outshooting ULV 24-8 and holding the advantage on corner kicks 8-3.
The Bulldogs open up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play next Wednesday, September 8, when they travel to Occidental College beginning at 7:00pm.