Happy to have won their first match of the year a week earlier, Loyola Marymount University’s women’s soccer team doubled its pleasure (and win total) Oct. 5 by downing the University of the Pacific 3-1 at Sullivan Field in their West Coast Conference opener.
In winning for the first time this season at home, the Lions (2-7-2, 1-0 WCC) scored three first half goals — their second highest single game total this year — to beat the Tigers (3-8, 0-1). They scored four against Duquesne in an early-season loss.
Freshman Gabriella Marchal scored less than five and a half minutes into the game off a corner kick, the first of her collegiate career, with an assist from Maki Kono. Amber McCorkle then made it 2-0 with her second goal of the season in the tenth minute on a pass from Skylar Robledo, and Siarfo Abekah — assisted by Gabbie McWilliams and Sydney Schultz — made it 3-0 with her second of the year five minutes before halftime.
Pacific’s lone goal came with seven minutes remaining, as Sadie Kenny posted the win in goal for LMU, which outshot Pacific 15-6.
“We have a lot of young players playing some big minutes for us this season,” said LMU coach Michelle Myers. "Any time they can score goals, get their confidence up, and walk away with the feeling that they can do this is what we want.
“It was nice to see ‘second effort’ goals," she added. "We talked about being better at reading those second balls and being aggressive in our box, so I was happy with those goals.”
West Coast Conference action continues Oct. 9 at San Francisco. The Lions are back at Sullivan Field Oct. 13 to host Pepperdine in the PCHCup.
Men’s Soccer
Preparing for the start of WCC play this week, the 22nd-ranked LMU men’s soccer team (5-3-3) posted a tie at home and a loss on the road last week.
At Sullivan Field Oct. 3, the Lions scored late to earn a 3-3 double-overtime tie with UC Irvine. Narciso Cervantes’ 78th minute goal, assisted by Rodrigo San Roman, knotted the match, and neither team could score in the extra session.
LMU began the scoring in the 31st minute on Duhaney Williams’ goal, assisted by Cervantes and CJ Neville, But the Anteaters scored two quick goals early in the second half for a 2-1 lead.
Neville then drove home the equalizer in the 53rd minute, assisted by Williams and Leo Zulli. A penalty kick goal five minutes later gave UC Irvine a 3-2 edge that lasted until Cervantes’ goal. Jacob Jackson made four saves for LMU, three in overtime.
On Oct. 6, in their only scheduled trip outside California for the only time this season, LMU lost a 1-0 match to Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. A first-half goal in the 15th minute was the only scoring of the day, though Alfredo Cortez played well in his first start as the Lions’ goalie.
The Lions return to Sullivan Field for three 7 p.m. games, including their WCC opener Oct. 12 against Gonzaga, followed by their last non-conference matchup of the year against Marshall (Oct. 15) and a WCC battle with Portland (Oct. 19).
