IRVINE, Calif. - The Loyola Marymount University women's soccer team (0-0-1) drew the defending Big West Champion UC Irvine Anteaters (1-0-1) 0-0 on Sunday afternoon at Crawford Field in Irvine, Calif.
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.
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.
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.
Two minutes later off a throw-in,
Amber McCorkle fired a curling effort inches wide of the top corner.
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.
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.
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.
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.
