CLAREMONT, Calif. — Maribel Duran and Jessica Hernandez both struck in a span of three minutes early in the second half to carry the University of La Verne women's soccer team past Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Pritzlaff Field.
Duran opened the scoring just two minutes into the second half after the Leopards dominated the play in the first half but was unsuccessful in finding a goal. Duran dribbled into the penalty box from the left side and launched a rocket past the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps goalkeeper Kelly McConnell near post to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
The Leopards doubled their lead just three minutes later as Cassidy Schweiger found Jessica Hernandez who tucked away her second goal of the season for what turned out to be the game winner.
With a two-goal lead in hand, the Leopards sat back, stayed organized defensively and invited the Athenas to come to them. CMS attempted a robust 14 shots in the second half—all after Hernandez's goal—but La Verne's defense stood tall as the Leopards blocked three of the attempts from the field and goalkeeper Jasmine Valadez made four huge saves in the half.
The Athenas eventually pulled one back but it came too late as Emily Cassell scored with just four seconds remaining in the game.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' came close to trimming the deficit earlier when a Makella Brems shot hit the crossbar and Kately Faust sailed the rebound high.
The Leopards outshot the Athenas, 20-18, for the game and earned a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Leopards improve to 4-2-1 overall and 2-1-0 in SCIAC play. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps falls to 3-5-1 and 1-3-0.
La Verne returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Chapman for a 11 a.m. kickoff.
