Still looking for their first win of the 2009 season, the
University of La Verne men's soccer team hosted
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Ben Hines Field Saturday afternoon.
The Leopards would not be denied, posting three first-half
goals en route to a 4-1 victory over the Stags.
Midfielder Ruben Trujillo blasted a shot past goalie Ryan Fahey
and got the Leopards on the board in the 21st minute to give the
Leos a 1-0 lead. La Verne was able to add to their lead in
the 37th minute when goalie Jonathyn Lomeli, who finished the match
with four saves, cleared a ball down the field to Taylor Hart. Hart
won the ball, beat his defender, and scored his second goal of the
season.
Before the fans could sit down, CMS's Ian Anderson scored off an
Eric Bean assist less than thirty seconds later to cut the lead to
2-1. Mike Mancilla would continue to light up the scoreboard
off a Trujillo assist in the 40th minute, and La Verne would take a
3-1 lead heading into halftime.
Action would slow in the second half, but La Verne would add
another goal as forward Nahavi Mendoza scored a header on a cross
from Bryan Mejia in the 55th minute to close the scoring. The Leos
earn their first win of the season and improve to 1-1 in conference
play.
La Verne outshot Claremont 21-12, and the Leopards doubled their
season goal total.
The Leopards will continue conference play at home next Wednesday
as they host the Poets from Whittier College, who recently defeated
the defending SCIAC champion Bulldogs from the University of
Redlands. The match will begin at 4 pm.