LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount women's soccer team played fourth-ranked Santa Clara tight all night in front of a lively home crowd on Friday. The Lions (3-7-4, 1-1-1 WCC) took a lead into the half, but Santa Clara (11-1-1, 2-0 WCC) scored twice after intermission to win, 3-2.
 
"I thought tonight's game was very bittersweet," said Head coach Michelle Myers. "Obviously, Santa Clara is on a roll, they are fourth in the nation, and we thought we outplayed them at times. With the exception of a few mistakes, that game could have been ours."
 
The Lions came out prepared to face their ranked conference foe, battling for balls and winning possession early on. Despite the strong play, the Broncos got on the board first, capitalizing on a cross attempt in the 13^thminute.
 
LMU did not let it stun them, earning a free kick less than a minute later. Maki Kono took the set piece and put it directly on frame over the visiting goalkeeper to tie the score at 1-all.
 
The tie game remained intact until just before the halftime whistle. In the 43^rdminute LMU earned their lone corner of the half. Kono took the ball and after it bounced around off a few players, Simone Handy turned and scored it to give LMU the 2-1 lead heading into the break.
 
The Broncos took advantage in the second half of two key opportunities, one in the 60^thminute to tie it and again in the 78^thminute to take the lead.
 
"I'm very pleased with our effort tonight and how we competed," said Myers. "I'm an alum of Santa Clara, so I know their coaches and they felt that we are one of the toughest teams that they have played all year in terms of competing. That is a very nice thing to hear because that is something that we have worked on with the girls over the course of the season so that we can get results."
 
Charlee Pruitt recorded all eight of the game's saves in her 90 minutes in net. Each team finished with three corner kicks.
 
"It's always hard on a quick turnaround, especially when we play as many minutes as we did," said Myers. "It'll be another tough team that is really having a good year as well. They are a high-pressing team, they have some athletes, and they'll be physical. Again, we have to compete and just have to break them down and put away those chances that tonight we were a little shy on."
 
The Lions are back on Sullivan Field Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup against San Francisco.