Women's soccer team battles defending state champion
Sep 11, 2007
The Irvine Valley women's soccer team played one of its best matches under fourth-year head coach Simon Davies, battling Santiago Canyon before losing, 2-0, Tuesday afternoon in the Orange Empire Conference opener for both schools at IVC.
Santiago Canyon is the defending state champion and was ranked No. 2 nationally to start this season in the NSCAA/Adidas poll.
Santiago Canyon (6-0-0) out-shot Irvine Valley, 17-1, in the contest, including, 10-0, in the first half, and controlled much of the action, but the game was still scoreless at halftime.
Santiago Canyon’s Kaitlin Thulin hit the post on a free kick from the left corner in the sixth minute of the contest.
IVC goalie Lupe Jimenez denied the Hawks’ other good chances in the opening half. She made four of her six saves in the first half, including two that came on solid diving efforts.
Santiago Canyon took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the second half. Kristen Lindblom started the play, finding Sarah Califf on the right wing with a pass. Califf then knocked the ball into the middle where Kristi Wagerle finished.
The Hawks went up, 2-0, in the 60th minute on a shot from near the top of the box by Kaitlin Thulin. Califf picked up the assist on Santiago Canyon’s second goal too, dropping back the pass to Thulin.
“We made a game of it,” said Davies, the IVC coach. “I was really pleased with how the girls played. I am very proud of them. It is the best we’ve ever played (Santiago Canyon).
“What I liked most was that even when we were down, 2-0, in the second half, the team never folded. That was great. Some people showed some real character out there today.”
Irvine Valley (0-5-0) plays against at home on Friday, taking on Golden West in another conference game at 3 p.m.