THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's soccer (14-3-2, 9-2-1 SCIAC) powered past CMS (13-4-3, 8-2-2 SCIAC) in the SCIAC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday evening, with Anna Evenson's goal in the 83rd minute leading the Regals to a 2-1 victory.

In last year's SCIAC Tournament, Cal Lutheran hosted CMS in the 2-seed/3-seed semifinal match, losing 2-1. Coming into tonight, the Regals hadn't beaten the Athenas in the postseason since 2015, with CMS taking the past four matches.

Tonight's match was again the 2-seed/3-seed matchup with the Regals hosting.

Both teams traded attacks early in the opening half before CMS was able to convert on a corner kick to take a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

In the 40th minute, Elena Baltazar stole the ball from an unsuspecting Athenas defender with a lot of green turf in front of her. Baltazar took a few touches barreling towards the box, and then she rocketed the ball past the CMS goalie into the bottom right corner of the net, equalizing the match at 1-1 heading into the break.

Kelsey Slaugh made three saves for Cal Lutheran in the first half.

In the 78th minute, Slaugh made her fifth save of the game on a diving stop to her left to prevent an Athenas goal and keep the game tied at one apiece.

Five minutes later, the Regals were pushing up the right side when Jessica Sprouse attempted to cross the ball into the box. It was immediately blocked by a CMS defender, but Sprouse was able to reset the possession by teeing up a shot for Tessa French. French sent it into the box from way out, and it looked like the Athenas' keeper would easily come down with it. But the ball went through her hands, bounced off her head towards the goal, and despite the CMS goalie's best efforts to prevent a disaster, Evenson was in the right place at the right time to clean it up and give Cal Lutheran a 2-1 advantage with just over six minutes to play.

Slaugh made one more save in the 87th minute on an aggressive play, keeping the Regals' lead intact as the clock hit zeros as Cal Lutheran beat CMS for the first time in the postseason since 2015.

Cal Lutheran advances to face 1-seed Pomona-Pitzer on the road in the SCIAC Tournament Final on Saturday. The Regals faced the Sagehens in the first SCIAC match of the 2025 season, losing 2-1 after two late Pomona-Pitzer goals.

The SCIAC Tournament Final start time is still TBD, with the results of Pomona-Pitzer's men's soccer SCIAC Tournament Semifinal tomorrow evening playing a part in Saturday's schedule. The game will begin at either 11am or 12pm.