LMU’s Leo Zulli keeps the ball away from an attacker during a recent match. The Lions end their regular season this week in San Francisco. (LMU Athletics)
A rugged battle in Moraga between the West Coast Conference’s top two men's soccer teams ended with St. Mary’s downing Loyola Marymount University 2-0 to clinch the WCC title Nov. 9.
Goals early and late – in the 12th and 88th minutes of play – were decisive for 11th-ranked St. Mary’s (15-1 overall, 6-0 WCC). The Lions managed just a single shot on net, from team-leading goal-scorer Duhaney Williams midway in the second half, that was turned away.
LMU (10-5-3 overall, 5-1 in WCC) concludes the regular season Nov. 15 at San Francisco. St. Mary’s, which clinched its second straight WCC title by beating LMU, hosts Portland.
LMU’s women’s team ended its season at 4-12-3 (3-5-1 in the WCC) following a double overtime tie at home with Portland and a lopsided loss to fourth-ranked BYU.
Nov. 6 vs. Portland: Maki Kono’s third goal of the season – a penalty kick conversion in the 74th minute – earned the Lions a 1-1 draw that 20 minutes of overtime couldn’t undo at Sullivan Field. A “hand” ball in the box was called on a Portland defender, allowing Kono to take and make the shot that knotted the score after the Pilots took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
Nov. 9 at BYU: The unbeaten Cougars scored in the fourth and fifth minutes before LMU’s Sydney Schultz scored at 6:34, her second of the season. Then BYU took a 5-1 lead by halftime and never looked back, winning 8-1. BYU took 30 shots, forcing 10 saves by LMU goalkeepers Sadie Kenny and Lee Erickson.