Redlands, Calif. (October 26, 2016)—The Pomona-Pitzer Women’s Soccer team claimed the SCIAC Regular Season Championship with a 2-0 win over the Redlands Bulldogs on Wednesday night. This is the Sagehens first SCIAC Regular Season Championship since 2005.
The Sagehens have been dominant in the conference play all season, leading the SCIAC in goals with 30, assists with 21, and have been scored on just three times in SCIAC play, by far the lowest in the conference. The Sagehens are on a nine-game win streak—during that stretch they have not been scored on.
“We’ve found different ways to win games all season,” said Head Coach Jennifer Scanlon. “Tonight it was gritty defense, possessing well in the midfield and good combination play up top.”
Following a foul by the Bulldogs, Jamie Kerester (PO ’17) gathered a pass on the left side of the field, drove into the box and crossed the ball to Natasha Thornton-Clark (PO ’18), who beat the defender and slid the ball past the keeper for the early lead. Thornton-Clark is coming off a stand-out performance last week that earned her SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors.
Peri Cuppens ’19
Senior Danika Bethune (PO ’17) extended Pomona-Pitzer’s lead to 2-0 in the 58th minute on a pass from Peri Cuppens ’19. Corey Goelz (PO ’17) recorded seven saves in the game. This is the first regular season SCIAC championship for Sagehen seniors, including Pitzer’s Alyssa Kim ’17, who leads the SCIAC in assists and ranks fifth for points this season.
“These seniors deserve this championship,” said Scanlon. “They’ve been close throughout their careers and they have led us all season. I’m very proud of this group and excited to see what we can do in the postseason.”
The win guarantees the Sagehens home field advantage throughout the SCIAC Tournament and extends their record to 13-1-2 overall and 11-0-2 in SCIAC play. The 13 wins ties the Sagehens’ record for the most wins in a season. Last year, the Sagehens won the 2015 SCIAC Tournament Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to Cuppens and Kim, the Sagehens’ roster is rich with Pitzer players: Sofia Barsher ’18, Isa Berardo ’20, Vanessa Blaylock ’20, Lily Gane ’20, Brianna Lau ’20, Lindsay Mooradian ’19 and Lindsay Piwinski ’18.
The Sagehens will close out the regular season this Saturday at the University of La Verne. Game time is 7 p.m.
