REDLANDS, Calif. – Patience paid off for the Cal Lutheran women's soccer team Saturday, as the Regals erupted for three second-half goals to secure a 3-0 shutout victory over Redlands at Farquhar Field. Cal Lutheran improved to 11-1-3 overall and 7-0-2 in SCIAC play, extending its winning streak to eight games and moving atop the conference standings.
The Regals controlled the match from the opening whistle, relentlessly pressuring the Bulldogs and creating scoring opportunities throughout the first half. Cal Lutheran recorded 16 shots before the break while limiting Redlands to just one, but the teams remained scoreless at halftime.
Cal Lutheran continued to push after the intermission, and the breakthrough finally came in the 66th minute. A ball deflected off a Redlands defender and into the net, giving the Regals a 1-0 advantage.
Just four minutes later,
Stephenie Hackett doubled the lead in the 70th minute, capitalizing on a series of deflections following a corner kick to volley the ball home. The Regals struck again in the 75th minute when
Atiana Santoyo sent a low cross into the box for
Elena Baltazar, who finished the opportunity to make it 3-0.
The Regals finished with a commanding 34 shots, including 15 on target, and 14 corner kicks while holding the Bulldogs to just three shots and two on goal. Goalkeeper
Kira Kasarda recorded two saves to earn the team's eighth shutout of the season as Cal Lutheran's defense helped keep Redlands off the scoreboard.
With the victory, Cal Lutheran earned its eighth consecutive win and maintains the longest active winning streak in the SCIAC, tied with Pomona-Pitzer. The Regals now sit atop the conference standings with 23 points, one ahead of the Sagehens, who have played one less conference game.
Cal Lutheran returns to the pitch Wednesday, October 21, traveling to Occidental for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Regals will look to extend their winning streak to nine games, which would match Cal Lu's longest winning streak since 2023, with just four regular-season games remaining.
