August 31, 2007

Women's Soccer Defeats Pacific Lutheran In Season Opener

PARKLAND, Wash. – UC Santa Cruz, ranked No. 8 in the Division III women’s soccer Top 25 poll, scored a goal in each half to defeat host Pacific Lutheran, 2-0, in the 2007 season opener for both teams on Friday afternoon.

The Banana Slugs got on the board at 36:19 when Annick Lamb hit a sliding left-footed shot from an angle past PLU goalkeeper Amanda Tschauner. Lamb raced onto a nice through ball from Danielle Mullin and fended off one defender before finishing the play.

The Banana Slugs had the run of play through the first 45 minutes, out-shooting the hosts, 9-2, and they continued their assault during the second half when they took 12 shots to two for the Lutes. The visitors nearly scored their second goal with about 16 minutes remaining but Wendy Funk’s shot hit the crossbar and bounced away. It didn’t matter, because less than a minute later Didi Ramirez latched onto the ball following a goal mouth scramble and fired a 15-yard bullet into the left side of the net.

Tschauner, who finished with six saves, came up with several stops in the closing minutes, including a diving effort on a shot by Lamb.

Pacific Lutheran’s best chance came with about four minutes remaining when Christina McDuffie’s left-footed shot was parried over the bar by UCSC goalkeeper Katie Loomis.

Both teams are back in action on Sunday as PLU plays at Evergreen State and UCSC plays at Puget Sound.