Bulldog Women’s Soccer Suffers Tough Defeat Against Sagehens
The University of Redlands women's soccer program suffered a blow to its hopes of competing in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament after falling to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Wednesday afternoon, 0-1. The loss drops the Bulldogs into a tie for fourth-place in the conference standings with the Sagehens. Both teams have one regular-season match remaining.
Despite being out-shot, 7-0, during the first 45 minutes, the Redlands' defense held strong and senior goalkeeper Linzey Smith (Anaheim Hills, CA) was a brick wall, tallying four saves in the process.
The second stanza saw the Sagehens score the decisive goal in the 83rdminute when they hit a free kick, 40 yards from goal, into the Bulldog's 18-yard box. After the ball was flicked past junior goalkeeper Sabrina Grandke-Bawab (Kirkland, WA), the ball took a slight deflection and Pomona-Pitzer freshman defender Natalie Barberesi (Newport Beach, CA) was in the right spot at the right time as she scored on an empty net from just six yards out.
The Bulldogs tried to find the late equalizer, but were unable to do so, managing only two shots in the second half. Junior midfielder Nicole Fox(Cheney, WA) and senior midfielder Rheana Bales (Issaquah, WA) were the two Redlands players to tally shots on a day which the Maroon and Gray had a tough time finding its offensive rhythm.
Now in a tough predicament, Redlands (9-5-3, 6-5-2) must beat Whittier College on Saturday afternoon in order to have a chance at qualifying for the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. Since Pomona-Pitzer owns the tiebreaker between the two teams, the Bulldogs, in addition to having to beat the Poets, need the Sagehens to either tie or lose to La Verne on Saturday evening. Such results would jump Redlands into the fourth place by itself. Kickoff for the Maroon and Gray on Senior Day at Farquhar Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
