GLENDALE, Ariz. – Vanguard women's soccer did just about everything but score against the Arizona Christian Firestorm Thursday night.  The Lions outshot and mostly out-chanced their Golden State Athletic Conference foes but to no avail, as an 85th-minute tally for ACU gave the Firestorm the home victory 1-0.  Vanguard will fall to 7-3-2 overall and 3-1 in the GSAC, while ACU improves to 3-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in conference action.

What Happened?

The Lions moved the ball up the field eagerly at the start of the game, getting the first corner kick of the match in the second minute.  However, a foul would cancel the chance.  A quick reset allowed Kaylee Nelsen (SO/Exeter, CA) to fire a shot at goal from deep, but it was blocked.  ACU made a good transition play and got a shot away in the sixth minute of action, but the hosts put their first attempt of the night wide of the goal.  The Blue and Gold did not let that dissuade them, as the team spent the next 18 minutes and change bashing away at the Firestorm net.  The Lions had four shots and three corner kicks over that span, but Jennifer Sanchez made saves against Alyssa Fong (SO/Rescue, CA) and Kennedy Cypher (FR/Lake Tapps, WA) to keep the score 0-0. 

Vanguard almost gave up a goal in the 24th minute, as Cami Mercado took a feed from deep, played it to herself over Maddy Thompson (SR/Aliso Viejo, CA), and drove in at goal.  However, Thompson and Jordin Holmquist-Wilder (SO/Temecula, CA) did enough to force Mercado into an early shot, which she put over the crossbar.  The VU goalie then made an easy stop about a minute later and the Lions shook themselves back awake.  Takara Kiesel (SO/Wailuku, HI), Cypher, Fong, and Bethany Urrabazo (SO/Gilroy, CA) each drove shots toward the goal, but they were either saved or missed the target.  Rachel Penick (FR/San Diego, CA) also missed her first shot of the game in the 40th minute and two late corner kicks in the 42nd minute proved to be fruitless for VU, with the score still 0-0 at halftime.

The Lions had a 12-3 shot advantage and a 7-0 lead in corner kicks in the half.

There were only nine total fouls in the first half but the second 45 saw that count doubled that and then some, with 22 fouls over the course of the second frame, denying the teams the same sort of flow found in the first half.  Arizona Christian had the first shot of the period in the 51st minute but it carried on wide of the post.  Vanguard then started to push their will into the contest, with some good spells of possession.  Madelyn Diaz (SR/San Clemente, CA) took a set piece opportunity just shy of the hour mark, but despite a bobble on the save from Sanchez, no one was close enough to capitalize.  Diaz tried again with a header a few minutes later, but could not smash the ball on target.  Jena Howard (FR/Loomis, CA) had two opportunities on deep shots but neither challenged Sanchez in net.  Penick tried to bend a deep shot from the far sideline in the 74th minute but Sanchez caught her pop-up in the box with ease.

Despite a lower shot total in the half, the Blue and Gold still seemed to be in control of the action as the game wound down.  But all of that collapsed in the 85th minute.  A defensive miscommunication allowed Mercado to lay a pass right into the stride of Isabelle Cruz just outside the box.  The ACU forward took one step and sent a laser to the near post past Holmquist-Wilder to put the Firestorm ahead for good.  No more shots were tallied in the final five and a half minutes, giving the home side the 1-0 victory.

VU ended up outshooting the Firestorm 18-7 and 7-2 in shots on goal.  There were no corner kicks in the second half, keeping VU ahead 7-0 in that department.  ACU had 22 fouls to Vanguard's nine.  Holmquist-Wilder made one save.  Diaz led the Lions with four shots and one on frame.  Penick had three shots and one on target, Fong had three shots and two on goal, and both Howard and Cypher each had two shots and one on goal.

What was Said?

"We played well tonight and generated plenty of opportunities but just couldn't find the back of the net," said Head Coach Lauren Mascaro.  "Credit to ACU for executing their game plan.  One more game on this business trip, so tonight we reflect, tomorrow we reset, and Saturday we're right back at it.  There's still a lot of season left."

Why is it Important? The shutout streak ends at four-straight games and the win streak at five.  The Lions will still be at the top of the standings tonight but will now face pressure from Westmont and OUAZ, who entered the day one game and two points back.  That being said, VU did get some help on the night, as San Diego Christian Beat OUAZ.  Westmont plays HIU on Saturday.  This was the first loss in 12 total games against ACU for the women's soccer program and only the second goal conceded to the Firestorm all-time.

What's Next?  The Blue and Gold will take on the Spirit on Saturday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m. in a battle that will have big implications for the GSAC standings.