COSTA MESA – Alyssa Fong and Kennedy Cypher scored goals and the stingy Vanguard defense limited Southern Oregon to just six shots in a 2-0 women's soccer victory at VU Soccer Field on Saturday.
Fong found the net for the third consecutive game and Cypher scored her first of the season as the Lions remained unbeaten at 2-0-1. The Raiders fell to 3-2-0.
Jordin Holmquist-Wilder made three saves to pick up her second shutout of the season and 10th of her career.
Fong led the Lions with five shots, while Cypher, Francesca Lindstrom and Kaitlyn Currier had two apiece.
Jaylen Kinong made her Blue and Gold debut to help the VU backline suffocate the Raiders.
What Happened?
Both teams looked to create opportunities in the early going and Vanguard capitalized on the first opening.
Avery Collins played a ball out wide to Jena Howard, who hesitated before sprinting out wide to evade her defender. She sent in a cross that deflected off a Raider defender and popped up into the air. Fong ran down the middle of the crease and one-timed a shot into the net at the 9:00 mark. Howard recorded her first assist of the season and second of her career.
Fong took the first five shots for the Lions. Meanwhile, VU handcuffed the SOU offense, limiting the visitors to a single shot in the first half. Frida Vargas had the lone attempt in the second minute.
Taking the 1-0 lead into halftime, the Lions continued to apply pressure. Dangerous in space, Fong drove hard down the left side and hit a glorious cross to the waiting Lindstrom, who banged her attempt off the right post.
The Lions eventually created their two goal lead in the 63rd minute. A Raider defender sagged off on Currier over on the left flank, and the freshman midfielder laid off a short pass to Cypher. Cypher settled the ball and hit a left-footed strike over the Raider keeper and inside the far post. Currier notched her first point as a Lion on the assist.
Holmquist-Wilder made stops in the 74th and 78th minutes to keep the Raiders at bay.
Why Is It Important?: Southern Oregon was picked to finish second in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and has received votes in the NAIA poll. The Lions looked poised and organized in just the third game of the Emily Reynolds era.
What Was Said?: "We asked the team to win their individual duels all over the field today and they did that," said Reynolds, the first-year head coach. "They moved the ball well when we won it and created two great goals. The hope is always that they play with a strong belief that they are worthy no matter what they do on the field and I think we saw that in them today."
What's Next?: The Lions return to action on Monday against Midland (Neb.) at 11:00 a.m.
