THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Lady Luck was not on the Cal Lutheran women's soccer team's side Saturday night as the Regals missed two open goals and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps captured the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season Tournament championship with a 1-0 victory.
Cal Lutheran's normally strong offense was held in check with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps dominating possession while becoming the only team to defeat the Regals twice this season.
It was an evenly matched first half with both teams trading momentum while each generated numerous scoring chances. The Athenas nearly struck first in the 20th minute when Kerry Moller had the ball in front of the goal, but Yaharia Hernandez was able to force an early shot and Kristin Bailey came up with the block.
In the 37th minute, Cal Lutheran missed a chance at a goal when Anna Medler broke free from a pack of CMS defenders following a Mallory Carcich free-kick but was narrowly ruled off-sides.
The Regals best scoring opportunity came three minutes later when Carcich bowed in a corner-kick and Stephanie Gilbert headed it to the far-post but CMS goalkeeper Hannah Dunham came up with the save.
The teams ended the first half scoreless with Cal Lutheran outshooting the Athenas 7-4.
Just seven minutes into the second half, CMS took the lead for good when Lauren Allen pushed the ball through a pile of CLU defenders and across the goal-line following a corner-kick in the 52nd minute.
Cal Lutheran certainly gave itself scoring chances in the final 30 minutes but never could convert.
The first opportunity came when Taylor Will corralled a rebound off a deflected cross in the 71st minute and had an open look but her shot sailed over the cross-bar.
Just three minutes later, Cal Lutheran had what looked to be the equalizer when Gilbert slipped behind the CMS defense and was alone but her left-footed shot rolled just off the goal and out-of-bounds.
The Athenas would hold off the rest of the late charge from the Regals and earn their automatic bid in the NCAA tournament with the victory.
Gilbert, Will and Kristina Hulse led CLU with four shots each while Bailey came up with five saves.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (10-8-3) was led by Moller who fired off four shots, three on target. Both Makella Brems and Elizabeth Augustine finished with a pair of shots apiece. Dunham tallied five saves for the Athenas tonight.
Cal Lutheran (17-5) will have to await its postseason fate for the second year in a row as the Regals will hope to earn a Pool "C" at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The selection show on NCAA.com is set for Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m. (PST).
Box Score: CMS 1, CLU 0
CLU Twitter: https://twitter.com/clusports
Follow Karly: @Karlyloberg00
CLU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clusports
