IRVINE, Calif. – The Vanguard women's soccer team played the nightcap of the Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Hope International Royals Saturday night and an enthralling match ensued.  The Royals twice held the lead and twice did the Lions equalize, with Jena Howard's 87th-minute strike making the final score a 3-3 draw.  The Lions go to 5-1-4 overall and 1-0-1 in GSAC action, while the Royals go to 7-2-2 overall and also 1-0-1 in conference play.
 
What Happened?  Jordin Holmquist-Wilder was under siege at the start of the match, as she had to face three shots over the course of the opening six minutes.  However, she was up to the task on all three to keep things at nil-nil.  Avery Collins had the first shot attempt by the Blue and Gold but could not squeak it by Zaydee Solis in the fifth minute.  Hope almost opened the scoring in the 19th minute, as a shot from outside the box zipped in and thumped off the crossbar, but the spin sent it over the net instead of back into the box. 
 
Holmquist-Wilder made four more saves as the half moved along, as the unique 3-4-3 formation used by the Royals put all the pressure on the Lions.  Unfortunately, the pressure would finally pay off for the hosts, as a pass slipped through the VU defenders and was put away by Christiane Sundstrom to open the scoring in the 32nd minute.
 
The Lions found a little inspiration before halftime, with Alyssa Fong and Hailey Garvin each unleashing shots only to see them miss the target.  Holmquist-Wilder added two additional saves to her first-half tally to come away with 10, as the Lions were outshot 14-4 in the first 45 minutes of action.
 
Both teams changed tactics at the break and each side would net seven shots over the second period.  But things would get a little worse for the Lions before they got better, as Hope made it 2-0 just three minutes into the new period.  A corner kick by the Royals was taken short and a ball was then lifted behind Holmquist-Wilder, who had come off her line, and Monique Cervantes scored her second goal of the season.
 
The Lions slowly began to turn things around and found a rebuttal in the 53rd minute.  Rachel Penick collected a ball in the middle of the park and flipped it over to Kennedy Cypher on the left flank.  Cypher put her head down, carried the ball past the defenders, and arched a shot at goal from just outside the penalty box.  Solis got a finger on it but the touch was not enough to stop the momentum of the shot, as the ball dropped into the net to make it 2-1.
 
Just 10 minutes later, Garvin would find some space to sneak through the HIU backline and Cypher tried to play her into the box with a well-paced pass.  As Garvin got close to the ball, she was tripped inside the penalty area and the referee awarded the penalty kick.  Penick stepped forward to take the PK and slotted it home in the left side of the net to knot the game at 2-2.
 
Vanguard had two more shots over the next four minutes, with Kaitlyn Currier missing high and Cypher's next shot saved by Solis.  Despite the good push, the Royals soon moved the pendulum back to their side and forced Holmquist-Wilder to make three saves.  The defense continued to hold on, but the Royals got to celebrate again in the 77th minute.   Hope got a corner kick and the cross was perfect, with Sarah Ralston pocketing the goal. 
 
HIU played well over the next few minutes, but some cracks started to appear in their wall with 10 minutes left on the clock.  Garvin found an opening and lanced a shot on goal only for Solis to come up with a big save.  The Lions were able to bring bodies forward and that led to a turnover with four minutes to go.  Cypher made the steal and then drove down the left channel before sending a bouncing ball into the six-yard box.  Arriving from the right wing was Howard, who used her right foot to flick the ball past Solis to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The final shot of the game was sent high by the Royals and the draw was consummated at the full-time whistle.  The Royals had outshot the Lions 21-11 and 16-6 in shots on goal, but Holmquist-Wilder made 13 saves, a career-high at Vanguard, to help the Lions earn a point.  Garvin, Fong, and Cypher each had two shots for the Lions.
 
Why is it Important?  Vanguard has tied HIU the past two outings.  The win keeps VU in the top half of the standings with three points, the same as Hope.  Arizona Christian is at the top of the table at 3-0, with TMU and OUAZ next at 2-0-1 and 2-1 respectively. 
 
What's Next?  The Lions will prepare for The Master's and take on the Mustangs next Saturday, October 14, at 1:00 p.m.