ROCKLIN, Calif. – A convincing 3-0 performance against Jessup at Warrior Field gave the Lions their first PacWest victory and ended their two-game losing streak. Sophomore Kaitlyn Currier headlined the match with her first brace for VU, scoring one goal in each half. Rachel Penick also contributed to a pair of scores, with one goal and one assist.
In their highest scoring game of the season, the Lions improved to 2-4, while Jessup fell to 2-5.
Though both teams finished the game tied with seven shots, Vanguard was unrelenting in the opening period. The Lions closed the first interval outshooting the Warriors 6-2, and for the first time this season, went a whole half without surrendering a single shot on target.
With temperatures in the 90s, Hannah Caira finished as the only outfielder to play the full 90 minutes. VU captain Alyssa Fong finished with a team-high four shots, putting three on frame.
What Happened?: The Lions were in firm control from the first whistle, finding their first shot on target through a long-range effort from Fong in the opening minute. The senior midfielder would challenge the Jessup net again just five minutes later, after she drilled a point blank strike which nearly beat Celeste Fernandez in the Warrior goal.
VU would not wait much longer for its first PacWest goal, as the 11th minute opener from Currier was buried soon after. After receiving a square ball from the right side, Rachel Penick laid it off into stride for Currier, who beamed the ball from outside the box into the bottom right of the goal.
Vanguard doubled its lead in less than four minutes, after a free flowing attack caught Jessup's high defensive line on the backfoot. Fong's through ball sliced through the gap to find Jena Howard, whose low cross was put on a platter for Penick to tap in the second. The 15th minute goal was Penick's first of the season and 10th in a VU shirt, while Howard notched her second assist of the year.
Sydney Powell came close to grabbing her first goal for VU to conclude the half, as her sharp turn and stab with the left foot was denied by Fernandez in the 41st minute.
Jessup did well to squeeze the field and close the gaps for large portions of the second half. Kaylee Gillespie, the current PacWest leader in shots and shots on goal, funneled four of her five in the second period. She tested the VU goal two times in the first 10 minutes of the half and would play a large role in Jordin Holmquist-Wilder's three saves.
The Blue and Gold maintained momentum and switched gears after the water break in the second half, as they pressed Jessup down the right and left flanks of the field. The third goal came from precise passing down the right hand side, as Penick released Charlize Espinoza in acres of turf. The senior transfer took full advantage, spraying a quality cross to the front post as Currier glanced the header past Fernandez in the 81st minute. It was Espinoza's season high in minutes played and first assist as a Lion.
What Was Said?: "We knew it was a matter of time before the goals would come," said Head Coach Emily Reynolds. "It was a great way to end the roadtrip and hopefully we can start to build some momentum. We're proud of the chances we created and the composure to finish in and around the box. Getting our first win in the PacWest is a day we'll always remember."
What's Next?: The Lions will host the reigning PacWest and NCAA DII Champions in Point Loma on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
