Costa Mesa -- Vanguard women's soccer played its first Golden State Athletic Conference home match on Thursday against Ottawa University of Arizona. The Lions worked hard up and down the pitch but could not find a way to get past the Spirit, who took home a 2-0 victory. The Lions fall to 3-6-1 overall and 0-3 in GSAC play.
What Happened? The Blue and Gold started off well, with the team getting the first three shots of the game. Allie Griffith (SR/Aliso Viejo, CA) launched in an attempt from 20-plus yards in the fourth minute but could not find the target. Jillian Juarez (JR/Glendora, CA) then missed wide and Marielisa Hallam (SR/Corona, CA) followed that up three minutes later with a shot that also rose above the crossbar. VU continued to press up the field, but the Spirit locked down their own end and dealt with the couple of corner kicks that the Lions earned. The visitors got only one shot off from their lone corner kick late in the half, but it missed wide. 0-0 at the halftime whistle, both teams went off for a break and some tactical changes. VU had a 3-1 edge in shots but neither side had a shot on goal.
OUAZ stole the thunder from the Lions to start the second half. Ottawa established themselves within five minutes and got the first shots of the period away, with Ashley Levi (FR/Brentwood, CA) making her first stop of the game in the process. The Lions then got a corner kick but it was caught by Spirit goalie Chloe Gutierrez, who quickly threw it out to her left-back. The Spirit advanced forward rapidly and they got a shot on goal but it was saved by Levi. However, the rebound landed right at the feet of OUAZ striker Saipress Jones, who put it home from an extreme angle to give the Spirit the lead.
Four minutes later, a free-kick was awarded to the visitors after a VU foul. Kendall Caron blasted her 28-yard attempt through the wall and into the net to double the lead. Vanguard struggled to get possession until later in the game, and despite some good moments of play, the Lions could not challenge Gutierrez and fell 2-0 at the final whistle.
The Lions outshot the Spirit 11-8, had a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal, and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Hallam had four shots to lead the team while Payton Siurek (JR/Temecula, CA) had two shots, both on frame. Levi had two saves for the game.
Why is it important? The Lions take their first loss to the Spirit in the history of the match and now are at the bottom of the GSAC standings.
What's next? It will be a quick turnaround, as Arizona Christian will be in town on Saturday, October 9, at 11 a.m. ACU enters 0-2-1 and lost to San Diego Christian Thursday.
