THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The George Fox women's soccer team competed in California for their first official season game against the No. 14 Cal Lutheran Regals, but couldn't keep their two-game winning streak going, conceding 2-0.
How It Happened
Cal Lutheran, who entered the game ranked 14th in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches Poll, wasted no time putting pressure on Fox, with a powerful shot just four minutes in, narrowly hitting the crossbar and ricocheting back out for the Bruins to clear it.
The Regals had another chance in the 12th minute, getting the ball down to the end line, drawing out the defense, and making a pass back to result in a solid hit, but
Marisa Lam was there with the save, her first of the match. Lam picked up another save a minute later, after a ball just over the top of Fox's backline.
Lam got no break, the Regals keeping the Bruins on their toes, creating three more shot attempts in the minutes following, Lam tracking two more saves.
The constant pressure finally paid off for Cal Lutheran in the 22nd minute, a Fox throw-in landing at the feet of the Regals, followed by a through ball that ended up just inside the 18-yard box, a Regal striking it, ultimately going off the foot of another and arching into the goal, 1-0.
A collection of more shots were made by Cal Lutheran, with Lam grabbing another save in the air.
In the 39th minute, Fox had their first big opportunity of the game on a corner kick-
Morgan Phalen took it, hitting a beautiful ball in the box, but a scramble of feet ended with the ball cleared out, no further opportunity for the Bruins to capitalize on in the first half.
Cal Lutheran opened up the second half with a bang, creating a 2-0 lead, off a corner kick that soared just above
Myann Johansen's (starting the half in goal) hands, the Regals tapping it in.
Johansen made an amazing save in the 38th minute, a rocket hit just outside the box, Johansen soaring through the air to deflect it.
In the final seven minutes, there was another near chance for the Regals, but Johansen came off her line to deflect it, and Freshman
Olivia Ott made sure it stayed out of the danger zone, kicking it out.
Johansen picked five more saves and Fox's defense kept the Regals at 2-0 to close out the match.
Top Performances
Myann Johansen totaled seven saves in goal, while
Marisa Lam trailed just behind with six.
Erin Lam was the sole Bruin to play all 90 minutes on the defensive end.
What It Means
The Bruins start their record 0-1. The Regals move to 2-0.
What Comes Next
Fox stays in sunny Calif. but will travel east to Pasadena to match up against Caltech on Sunday, September 6th at 12 PM.
