IRVINE, Calif. -Â The Loyola Marymount University women's soccer team (0-0-1)Â drew the defending Big West Champion UC Irvine Anteaters (1-0-1) 0-0 on Sunday afternoon at Crawford Field in Irvine, Calif.Â
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Head Coach Chris Chamides, in his first game at the helm, ended a 26-game losing streak that dates to the spring season of 2021. After finishing the 2021 fall season 0-19, the Lions are in the draw column. Â
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Graduate transfer goalkeeper
Amanda Delgado started in goal and did not see a lot of action, only recording a pair of saves to preserve the clean sheet.Â
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The first half saw a few opportunities for the Lions to score. In the sixth minute, Ellen Loncar lofted a corner to the back post for Jennessa Groves. Groves headed across goal to the near post where the ball bounced around dangerously before being cleared by the Anteaters.Â
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Two minutes later off a throw-in,
Amber McCorkle fired a curling effort inches wide of the top corner. Â
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Makayla Demelo had a one-on-one situation with the Anteater keeper that ended in a save when the UC Irvine defense did just enough to keep her from hitting a harder shot. Â
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The second half did not see as many opportunities. After UC Irvine was awarded a yellow card for a foul just outside the 18-yard box,
Jessie Halladay blasted a right-footed shot over the crossbar. The other opportunity came when McCorkle found
Madison Werner at the back post. Werner found the back of the net but was deemed offside.Â
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The Anteaters turned up the heat towards the end of the game, with the Lions withstanding a barrage of corner kicks in the final ten minutes to keep the shutout. The backline trio of Watkins, Santen and Marchal stayed organized to claim the shutout.Â
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The Lions are back on the pitch on Thursday afternoon, August 25, against Washington. That match will begin at approximately 4 p.m. (PT) at Sullivan Field and will be broadcast live on the WCC Network. Tickets for the match are available on the AXS app. Â