CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team looked for an upset win Wednesday afternoon on the road against No. 21 Pomona-Pitzer, and despite staying within a goal at halftime could not pick up the victory as they would fall 4-1.
This was the second conference loss for the Bulldogs as they move to 3-5, 3-2 SCIAC, but they still sit 3rd within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings. Senior Peyton Fendrich (Clackamas, OR) was the lone goal for the Bulldogs coming with :24 seconds left in the first half.
The first attacking opportunity of the game for the Bulldogs came on a Sami Salinas (Foothill Ranch, CA) corner kick in the 22nd minute. Unfortunately the Maroon and Grey were unable to get a shot off.
Following two Sagehen goals in the 30th and 35th minutes, Alex Zerbel (Redlands, CA) got the first shot of the game for Redlands, but it went high with :90 seconds left in the half. A minute later UR was able to cut the deficit in half thanks to Fendrich. A long shot attempt was put into the box, which deflected off a defender before landing at the feet of Fendrich just outside the six. She took advantage of the short look and finished moving the score to 2-1 at the half.
Out of the break Salinas got her first look of the contest and the teams second chance coming in the 51st minute, but her strike would miss wide. The Bulldog defensive unit did well in the middle part of the half as the Sagehens took five shots, had a corner kick and forced a save from Courtney Stewart (San Jose, Calif.) over the course of three minutes.
Following a lull in the action, the Sagehens made it 3-1 in the 69th. The fourth and final goal came in the 89th.
It was an active game for the defense, as they faced 19 shots with eight of them on target. The Bulldogs posted three shots and scored on their lone shot on target.
Stewart started and played the full 90:00 minutes and made four saves to help the Bulldogs stay competitive. Fendrich, Zerbel, and Salinas each had one shot apiece. Fendrich's goal is her second this season and her eighth of her career.
The Bulldogs end their three-game road trip as they return to Farquhar Field after being on the road for ten days, playing six of their past seven games away. This Saturday, October 1 they will play the first game of a doubleheader with the men against Whittier College beginning at 4:00pm.