THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran women's soccer team did what no other No. 1 or 2 seed could do during the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season Tournament: avoid the upset. After neither higher seed from the men's tournament advanced Wednesday and No. 2 Pomona-Pitzer fell to No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps earlier in the afternoon, the No. 1 seeded Regals used a strong defensive performance and a goal from Taylor Will to fend off Chapman 1-0 and advance to the finals on Saturday.
The first half was devoid of many scoring chances before Cal Lutheran began to find its offensive footing in the final ten minutes. Stephanie Gilbert had two chances on goal, first missing a shot just wide right and then five minutes later, narrowly missing a header on a cross from Nicole Campbell.
With less than a minute to go in the half, Will broke loose on the left flank, cut back into the middle of the field and bent a shot on goal before it was deflected for a corner-kick. Mallory Carcich sent in the cross on the ensuing corner-kick and Anna Medler made a great effort on a header but Chapman goalkeeper Kristin Kleinow was able to deflect it out as the first half expired.
The Regals controlled possession and outshot the Panthers 10-2 in the first 45 minutes.
Cal Lutheran pounded Chapman in the second half with 13 shots and finally broke through in the 57th minute when Bailey Marquez found an open Will 25-yards outside the box. Will dribbled past a defender and launched a curving shot into the top left corner for the go-ahead score. It was also the junior's 50th goal of the her career.
The goal would stand the rest of the game but no without some drama in the final minutes. Chapman nearly found the equalizer in the 83rd minute when Rebeccah Bortz's left-footed shot skimmed the cross-bar and sailed out of bounds.
The Regals would fend off any final chances in the last five minutes and sealed their 17th victory of the season.
CLU goalkeeper Kristin Bailey finished with three saves in goal while Kleinow stopped seven shots.
Chelsea Braudo and Yahaira Hernandez combined with Carcich and Medler to earn their ninth shutout of the season.
Kristina Hulse led CLU with five shots with two coming on goal.
After the loss, Chapman ends its season at 10-10-1.
Cal Lutheran (17-4) will now host the SCIAC Post Season Tournament Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 5:00pm against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Box Score: CLU 1 CU 0
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