Oct. 25, 2009

Box Score

Santa Clara, Calif. - LMU closed out its difficult road trip with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of #16 Santa Clara in a West Coast Conference match on Sunday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The Lions (9-6-2, 1-3-1 WCC) had several scoring chances but were unable to upset the Broncos (12-5-1, 4-1-0 WCC).

For the third straight game, LMU's defense was under pressure immediately as SCU's Allie Wernon fired high just 34 seconds into the match. The Broncos would register three more shots over the first six minutes but LMU's defenders ensured that none of the looks would be good ones, with none troubling senior goalkeeper Allyssa Clark into a save.

LMU's first foray into the opposing area came from junior Julie Gallaudet, who produced the first save of the match out of Bronco keeper Lisa Lahman. The Broncos continued to peeper the Lion goal, but still their attempts were off-target. LMU had another shot in the 22nd minute when senior Tiffany Harrison broke through, only to see her strike fly high.

A corner kick in the 43rd minute started the offensive sequence that led to Santa Clara breaking through with the game's only goal. After winning a corner, Lexi Orand forced Clark into a save. Less than thirty seconds later, Jordan Angeli headed home off a cross from Jenny LaPonte to give the Broncos a 1-0 advantage two minutes before the half.

LMU regrouped at halftime and clamped down on Santa Clara's offense, holding the Broncos to just three shots. On the other end, junior Kelley Lawson got the ball on her foot on the right corner of the box and walked in all alone on Lahman. LaPonte, who had been initially beaten on the play, recovered speedily to body Lawson off the ball before she could take the shot, thwarting the tying goal. The Lions had one more chance to equalize but Lahman turned away sophomore Erin Rementer's 62nd-minute shot.

Clark finished with four saves for the Lions, who have now lost three in a row for the first time all season. Lahman stopped a pair of shots for the Broncos.

LMU returns to Sullivan Field next Friday for the final home game fof the 2009 season. The Lions will say goodbye to their 11 seniors in a pregame ceremony before taking on San Francisco at 3 p.m.