SportsSoccer

ULV cleans up SCIAC competition

Noelle Feesago (No. 15), ULV offense, experimented with a bicycle kick that was just wide of the Pomona­Pitzer goal. ULV offense Chelsea Riggins (No. 7) and Ashley Polan (No. 6); and Pomona-Pitzer defense Ashley Hovey (No. 2), Rebecca May (No. 9) and Katherine Moskop (No. 11) were startled by Feesago's shot outside the 18-yard line. The ULV women's soccer team had its first victory of the season, beating Pomona-Pitzer, 2-1. / photo by Amy Babin
Noelle Feesago (No. 15), ULV offense, experimented with a bicycle kick that was just wide of the Pomona­Pitzer goal. ULV offense Chelsea Riggins (No. 7) and Ashley Polan (No. 6); and Pomona-Pitzer defense Ashley Hovey (No. 2), Rebecca May (No. 9) and Katherine Moskop (No. 11) were startled by Feesago’s shot outside the 18-yard line. The ULV women’s soccer team had its first victory of the season, beating Pomona-Pitzer, 2-1. / photo by Amy Babin

by Jonathan Corral
Staff Writer

The saying goes, hard work pays off, and for the Leopards it finally did. Behind tough physical play and a hat trick from freshmen forward Amber Lejay as well as a goal from junior forward Amy Quesenberry, the Leopards picked up their first two victories of the season with a 2-1 triumph over Pomona-Pitzer and a 4-1 route over Cal Lutheran to improve their conference mark to 2-1 Saturday morning and Wednesday evening at Ben Hines Field.

Lejay, who now leads the team with eight goals in the young season, started things off right for the Leopards with her first goal 10 minutes into the game Wednesday evening.

Cal Lu quickly answered with a goal of their own to even the score at one apiece heading into halftime.

The second half started off with a bang for the Leopards as they completely shut down the Regals’ offense while theirs was on fire.

Lejay added the second of her three goals with a nice set-up pass from freshmen Mercedes Bermudez to make the score 2-1 early in the second half.

With their offense running on all cylinders, the Leopards continued to plow right through Cal Lu with goal after goal.

This time senior forward Ashley Polan scored an unassisted goal mid-way through the second half, making the score 3-1.

Lejay then put the nail in the coffin with her third goal of the game, set up by Polan with nine minutes to play.

Sophomore Courtney Lowry also added a goal, but it was called back because of an offsides penalty.

In the Pomona game which was played in near triple-digit heat, the squad wasted little time getting things going as Lejay scored three minutes into the game with a beautiful breakaway goal.

“This victory builds up confidence for our team,” said Lejay. “We finally put it away, after all of our hard work.”

The Sagehens quickly responded with a goal of their own as senior midfielder Sarah Staller sent a skyrocket into the air from the midfield line that flew over the outstretched arms of Leopard goalkeeper Victoria Hentges to even the score at one apiece heading into half-time.

After a relatively quiet first half, the Leopards came out in the second half with some renewed energy and aggression that set the tone for the rest of the game.

One of the catalysts of the Leopards’ excellent team play was Quesenberry, who added the game-winning goal early in the second half as she outran her defenders in route to the goal.

“As a team, we realize we are able to win,” Quesenberry said. “This makes us a lot better and gives us more confidence heading into our next game.”

With the victory in sight, the Leopard fans counted down the last few seconds and watched as their girls jumped into each other’s arms celebrating the victory.

“Finally,” said head coach Wendy Zwissler. “It’s a relief to get this victory. It wasn’t our most spectacular game but it’s still a victory.”

A key performer in the game was goalkeeper Hentges who recorded four saves, most of which were incredible shots that were headed straight for the back of the net.

Also freshmen defensive specialist Bermudez and sophomore forward Lowry sparked the Leopards squad with their tough physical play.

Bermudez had numerous goal-saving slide tackles and Lowry used excellent footwork skills to set her teammates up for good looks at the goal.

With their two-game winning streak the Leopards have confidence riding high on their shoulders as they continue a tough four-game homestand.

The Leopards are back in action at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning facing Claremont at Ben Hines Field.

Jonathan Corral
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Amy Babin
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