SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Vanguard's visit to the reigning Pacific West Conference champions, Point Loma, came with a 4-1 loss Saturday at PLNU Soccer Field. The first half saw four goals between both teams, with PLNU emptying two past the Lion net within the first six minutes of play. Rachel Penick gave the Lions a lifeline in the eighth minute, but her goal was cancelled out after PLNU's Kylie Garcia tallied her first career brace for a 3-1 halftime score.

The Blue and Gold managed to outshoot the defending champions in the second half but ultimately closed their four-game road trip with defeat after the Sea Lions produced their fourth goal in the 63rd minute.

The Lions (3-7-1, 1-4) suffer a fourth straight loss for the first time since 2010. PLNU remains unbeaten in the PacWest, shifting to a 5-2-3, 2-0-2 record.

Penick's first-half strike was her fourth goal of the season. The senior midfielder leads the team with nine points, marking her highest point total since her debut season with VU back in 2021 (21 points).

Despite the more lopsided scoreline, VU matched pace with Loma in total shots (13-12 PLNU) and shots on goal (6-5 PLNU). Netting the highest share of Vanguard's shots was Kate Burns, who peppered a season-high four toward the Sea Lion frame. Penick and Hailey Garvin were the joint highest behind the freshman, each tacking on two shots. VU attackers Sydney Powell, Alanna Heem, and Kennedy Cypher also registered one shot apiece.

What Happened? For the second match in a row, VU conceded a penalty kick goal within the first three minutes. PLNU earned the spot kick on their first attack from kickoff, after a VU defensive block connected off the hand to trigger the penalty. Grace Nelson planted the penalty kick into the bottom left corner, for the Sea Lions' third fastest goal in program history at 34 seconds and quickest since September 20, 2003.

The defending champions doubled their lead less than four minutes later from a throw-in from the right wing. PLNU combined and clipped the cross into the box as Garcia just snuck in front of her defender at the back post to stretch the ball into the top corner for a 2-0 score.

The Lions responded in the eighth minute, scoring off their first shot of the game. The Sea Lions tried playing out of the back but gave it away off a heavy touch from a PLNU center back. Penick was hunting at the edge of the box and buried the ball bottom left without hesitation.

It was Vanguard's first goal at Point Loma since October 7, 2008.

In the 11th minute, the Lions trapped Loma high up the pitch on the right side of the field. The Penick, Powell, Garvin sandwich resulted in a Sea Lion giveaway and a shot from Garvin, which was dragged wide.

Josselyne Navarrete made her first save of the day in the 16th minute, after PLNU started an attack from the left wing. The cross dropped near the top and box as Nelson sent a piledriver straight down the middle, requiring a strong hand from Navarrete to take the sting out of the strike.

Cypher created immediate offense off the bench with a set piece in the 25th minute. The ball sent in from the wing bounced in the Loma box but no Lion was able to take a stab at it.

With the game at 2-1 PLNU, the Blue and Gold were ready to recoup at halftime, but the Sea Lions nailed their third of the match, four minutes before the break. The space broke through as PLNU switched the ball to the left wing. After the initial cross attempt was blocked, the Sea Lions swarmed on the second ball, slipping in a cross which skipped past two Lions before Garcia cracked it into the top corner to make it 3-1.

The Lions outshot Loma 6-5 in the second half, but PLNU still retained control with large spells of possession. They went straight for goal from kickoff, creating a dangerous shot opportunity, which was thwarted by Avery Hanhauser's block.

VU put together a quality attack, starting with Hannah Caira's beautiful pass to Garvin. The ball was then tipped through to Penick, who nutmegged her defender and sprayed a tasty cross for the run of Powell. The senior striker did well to get ahead of her mark but couldn't pin the right connection on the ball to snatch it on goal.

The Sea Lions scored their fourth goal two minutes later after stringing together 12 passes from the goalkeeper to the forward line. Their move split through all lines of the VU formation and created an opening at the edge of the box for Alyssa Ketchman as the forward bent a curler to the top left corner.

VU tallied four more shots for the remainder of the match, forcing two saves from PLNU. Caira had her hand in the final two VU attempts in the game, with one set piece meeting the head of Powell and another free kick flaring over the bar.

What's Next? The Lions return home to face Azusa Pacific on Wednesday, October 22, at 12 pm.