Box Score Sept. 23, 2016 Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
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LOS ANGELES -- Despite holding the advantage in almost every statistical category from shots to time-of-possession, the Loyola Marymount women's soccer team still trailed on the scoreboard in the game's final ten minutes. LMU (5-2-2) extended its home-unbeaten streak to 15 games after goals in the 83rd and 88th minutes erased University of Nebraska Omaha's (2-6-2) first-half penalty kick.
"The second half versus first half, I thought we were two different teams," said Head Coach Michelle Myers. "One thing we asked our team that we hadn't seen all year is, `Are we resilient?' Now we can go back to this game and learn from this."
The Lions recorded season-highs in both shots (26) and shots on goal (14), yet were unable to finish those chances for the majority of the match. It wasn't until Nikki Martino connected her head on a Pilar Torres cross to finally put LMU on the scoreboard. Martino's second goal of the season found the back of the net in front of the supportive home crowd. Torres moves into a five-way tie for the team lead with her second assist of the year.
Without allowing the equalizer to put a halt to LMU's attack, the home team continued to push forward in hopes to end the game in regulation. The plan worked as the game's second penalty was called. Junior Maddie Medved was selected to take the PK and comfortably placed her chance in the far corner to secure yet another home victory for the program.
The Mavericks goal came as they were able to take control of the ball late in the first half and switch the field on the Lions, bringing numbers forward. In the 39th minute, UNO dribbled into the box and forced the center official to blow his whistle on a foul. Despite reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week Charlee Pruitt staring her down from the goal line, Nebraska Omaha's Abby Meader slotted it home on the keeper's far right.
After the intermission, LMU came out of the locker room as the aggressors to open the second half. UNO's Haley Shelton was forced to make back-to-back saves on two of Sarina Bolden's game-high five shot attempts. The Mavericks' goalkeeper totaled a career-high 12 saves in the match.
"When you get to this time of the year, the players are gutting through some really heavy legs and some injuries," said Myers. "We had to turn this game around, and now we focus on Sunday."
The Lions will have to recover quickly as they take on a tough Gauchos team on Sunday at Sullivan Field. The 1 p.m. game against UC Santa Barbara (9-1) features a team that opened the season with eight straight wins. The Gauchos did drop its first game of the year, a 2-1 road contest at Texas, last Sunday and will play at Pacific on Thursday prior to making the return trip south. The Lions are 4-0-1 all-time when hosting UCSB.
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