REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team got back on track Saturday night in a shutout win 2-0 over Whittier College.
The Bulldogs ended their two-game losing skid by beating the Poets inside Farquhar Field for their fourth win on the season. They improve to 4-5, 4-2 SCIAC and move up in the conference standings to No. 2, a point ahead of Claremont-M-S.
Redlands got off to a strong start in the first half outshooting the Poets 10-4, two of which were on frame coming from Sabrina Semmere (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and Charlie Baum (Hesperia, CA). These two came within three minutes of each other midway through the period. The Bulldogs also earned three corner kicks and went into the break scoreless.
The Maroon and Grey came out of intermission where they left off putting up another 11 shots, this time two of them falling that propelled them to the home victory. Redlands earned three corner kicks within the first six minutes of the half before finding the eventual game-winning goal in the 53rd minute off the foot of first year Natalie Turiace (San Dimas, CA). It was all set up by Peyton Fendrich (Clackamas, OR) who put a cross into the box finding Taylor Pisan (Redmond, WA) outside the six. She gained control, while shielding her defender before finding Turiace inside the 18 who then finished inside the left post.
UR continued to provide the pressure after that as Fendrich would get a look on goal two minutes later, forcing a save from Poet keeper Vanessa Martinez. Baum then connected on her first shot on goal in the 61st minute again forcing Martinez into a stop. The insurance goal came in the 74th minute from Semmere who scored from the right side of the 18-yard box as a defender stepped out to her. This finish would follow a 50-yard carry from Semmere as she took it from the UR defensive third.
Over the final 16:00 minutes Whittier would get off just three shots, one sent high, another stopped by Bulldog keeper Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA) and the last going left. Even with a two-goal lead Redlands continued to attack as Semmere would take a shot that missed left, followed by a Skylar Pogue (Simi valley, CA) strike that hit the crossbar and the last coming from Sami Salinas (Foothill Ranch, CA) who put one final look on frame.
Semmere led the offense with four shots, two of which were on goal. Baum finished with three shots, two on goal and an assist and another six players would tally two shots a piece.
The Bulldogs outshot the Poets 21-12 and held the advantage on corner kicks (8-6) and shots on goal (7-5). Stewart was tested late in the second half, but came up with the shutout posting five saves after playing the full 90:00 minutes.
Redlands returns to the pitch next Wednesday, October 5 when they host the University of La Verne under the lights at Farquhar Field beginning at 7:00pm.
