COSTA MESA – Saint Katherine scored goals in the sixth and 47th minutes, holding on for a 2-1 women's soccer victory against Vanguard at the VU Soccer Field Saturday afternoon.

The Firebirds scored both goals on set pieces in an evenly played match statistically. Both teams took 14 shots overall, had seven shots on goal, and accounted for four corner kicks.

Jordin Holmquist-Wilder (SO/Temecula, CA) tallied five saves for the Lions, while her counterpart Victoria Cavazos notched six for the Firebirds. Payton Siurek (SR/Temecula, CA) led the Lions with four shots, while Alyssa Fong (SO/Rescue, CA), Rachel Penick (FR/San Diego, CA) and Kennedy Cypher (FR/Lake Tapps, WA) had three apiece.

What Happened?: The Firebirds drew back-to-back corner kicks off deflections along the endline to set up their first goal. On the second attempt, Isabela Deleon lofted a ball near the top of the penalty box. The ball bounded around before Saint Katherine's Ceirra Little poked a shot that was destined for goal until Vanguard's Maleah Vasquez (JR/Fontana, CA) headed it off the line.

However, the rebound ricocheted straight to Little, who emerged from the scrum to follow up with a one-timer to the lower left corner for her second goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Cavazos stopped three shots in a four-minute span midway through the period, as the Lions fought for the equalizer.

VU finally broke through in the 38th minute, taking advantage of its own corner kick opportunity. Celeste Kiernan (JR/Las Vegas, NV) popped a ball near the top of the box, where Madelyn Diaz (SR/San Clemente, CA) hit a perfect header over a leaping Cavazos and into the upper right corner.

It was the first goal of the year for Diaz – and the sixth of her career – as the score was 1-1 heading into intermission.

Coming out of the break, Saint Katherine did not waste any time retaking the lead, again deflecting a ball off a Lion to earn a corner kick in the first minute of the second half.

Deleon's service found Veronica Rodriguez, who took a shot that Holmquist-Wilder parried away. The ball rebounded to Little, but a Lion defender blocked her attempt. Anais Thompson, who drew the start in the second half for the Firebirds, corralled the ensuing loose ball and netted her team's second goal on a shot to the lower left.

The Lions mustered five shots in the second half, but none were on target.

Saint Katherine won for the first time in four tries in the series, scoring their first goals after getting outscored 5-0 in the three previous meetings.

Why Is It Important?: The Lions looked to build more momentum following Monday's impressive 4-0 victory over Trinity Christian, but suffered a couple of unfortunate breakdowns that led to Firebird scores this afternoon.

What Was Said?: "We beat ourselves today," said Head Coach Lauren Mascaro. "Saint Katherine's did its job to put those two chances away, but giving up those set pieces in the first five of each half and not commanding those zones is extremely disappointing. There were some bright spots on the day, like the beautiful header goal by Diaz in the first half. But we have got to demand better from ourselves from whistle to whistle."

What's Next?: The Lions return to action on Tuesday, August 30, hosting Antelope Valley at 1:00 p.m.