COSTA MESA -- Monday afternoon brought Vanguard women's soccer back home for a match against the University of Antelope Valley.  VU entered the game 7-0 all-time against the Pioneers and while the squad was unable to score in the first half, five second-period goals secured a 5-0 victory for the Lions.  In addition to the win, Jena Howard, Jasmine Guzman, Beatrice Johnson, and Kaitlyn Currier all scored their first collegiate goals, helping Vanguard improve to 3-1-3.  UAV drops to 0-5. 
 
What Happened? The Lions had 17 shots in the first frame, but Michelle Silva made four stops to keep VU at bay.  Kennedy Cypher had a couple of shots go over the bar and Faith Carlson made an excellent drive down the end line only to see her shot hit the side netting.  Vanguard was rarely in its own end in the half and the chances certainly mounted as the half moved along.  However, UAV blocked a number of shots and made some good plays over the first half to help keep things 0-0 after 45 minutes.
 
The Lions took the instruction given during the intermission and applied it with diligence, as Vanguard scored just two minutes into the second period.  The Blue and Gold brought the ball up the bench side of the field and Howard received a pass from Cypher.  She dribbled towards the top of the box, evaded one defender, saw a space between two more UAV players, and launched a beautiful shot into the top-right corner of the net to put the Lions ahead 1-0.
 
The traffic continued to be one-way and the second goal would arrive just shy of the hour mark.  The Lions strung together a couple of nice passes and Cypher again started the moment, slithering a ball from one side of the box all the way to the other.  Arriving at the far post was Francesca Lindstrom, who stroked the ball into the net to make it 2-0.  Six minutes later, Guzman was able open her collegiate account.  The Lions worked the ball again down the bench side of the field and Guzman slashed through an opening and put the ball into the net in the 66th minute.
 
The fourth goal was chained together off a bad UAV clearance, as Peyton Soliday headed the ball back into the offensive half.  A pass was then rolled into Moriah Whorton but she could not bring it under her control.  However, it ended up benefiting Johnson, as she collected the loose change, drove into the box, and slammed her shot inside the far post to make it 4-0.  Currier would tag on the fifth tally in the 87th minute to end the game with a flourish for the Lions.  The Pioneers coughed the ball up and even though she was 20-plus yards from goal, Currier lofted a perfectly touched ball high into the air and into the top corner of the net. 
 
The Lions ended with 27 shots, 12 on target, while surrendering only one shot to UAV.  Alyssa Fong paced VU with six shots, three on target, with Celeste Kiernan second with five shots, two on frame.  Lindstrom and Cypher each had three shots.  Jordin Holmquist-Wilder collected the win and made the lone Vanguard save in the 49th minute.  Madalyn Morris played the final 13 minutes of the game in peace.
 
What was Said?  Head Coach Emily Reynolds said after the game, "It was a whole team effort today.  Our squad created a lot of chances and did well to put away the goals we set up.  It was another good step for us as we prepare for conference games."

What is Next?  The Lions will head up to Aliso Viejo on Wednesday and take on the Lions of Soka at 7:00 p.m.