POMONA, Calif. -- The very first game as a provisional member of the NCAA Division II saw the Vanguard women's soccer team play through the heat against the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona Thursday night.  The Lions were able to keep the preseason favorite in the California Collegiate Athletic Association off the board for over an hour before a goal for the Broncos in the 63rd minute proved to be the only tally for either side in the contest.  The Lions were outshot 15-4 but only allowed five of the CPP shots to be on target.  The Lions drop to 0-1 while the Broncos go to 1-0.
 
What Happened?  The Broncos had the opening shot of the contest just inside of four minutes played but it sailed over the goal.  Though forced backward over the first few minutes, Alyssa Fong soon got the first NCAA shot in Vanguard history in the book.  She got a little separation and unloaded a scorcher from outside the box, but it rose over the crossbar at the last moment.
 
The Blue and Gold had its best offensive flurry just past the 20th minute but the efforts could not produce a goal.  Rachel Penick picked up a loose ball on the right flank and drove into the box past the defense, but CPP goalie Bella Hara made the save.  A free kick four minutes later allowed Fong to attempt a deep shot again, but it was stopped comfortably by Hara.  VU generated its lone corner kick of the half in the 26th minute but could not fabricate a chance at goal from the cross.  The Broncos had two shots the rest of the period but neither troubled starter Jordin Holmquist-Wilder, who made two easy saves in the half.
 
The second half saw Madalyn Morris get the start in goal for the Lions and she made her first collegiate save on a bouncing shot in the 48th minute.  From there, the game resumed a familiar pattern from the first half, with the VU defense remaining stout but unable to bring the action to the CPP end. 
 
But the Broncos needed just one crack to score and they soon made one appear, as a turnover sprang the home side forward.  Marisa Salazar dribbled down the middle of the pitch, veered left, and then thumped a shot back to the far-right side of the net to put the Broncos up 1-0 in the 64th minute.
 
CPP would keep the Lions bottled up over the next 10 minutes, but the debutants did not accept their demise.  Vanguard slowly built some attacking energy and had some good passages of play that exposed the Broncos, but the final connection could not be completed.  Kennedy Cypher had the lone Vanguard shot the rest of the game, which Hara gloved confidently. 
 
Both VU goalies made two saves in the game and the Lions had one corner kick in each half.  There were only 11 total fouls, four of which belonged to the Lions.  Fong led the squad with two shots.  The defensive unit looked organized for most of the night, with newcomers Audrey Swanis and Hannah Caira getting a start.  Kate Kokx, Sydney Powell, Abby Grabowski, Alanna Heem, Avery Hanhauser, and Emily Wagner all made their first Vanguard appearances as well.
 
What was Said?  "There were a lot of positives to take away from the night," said Head Coach Emily Reynolds.  The team brought great effort and attitude and there is a strong sense of belief in this group.  We're excited to keep working."
 
What's Next?  The Lions will travel to Los Angeles for a match on Wednesday, September 11 against Cal State LA at 7:00 p.m.