LA VERNE, Calif. — Maribel Duran scored with a little over 10 minutes left in regulation to rescue a 1-1 draw for the University of La Verne women's soccer team against Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday night at Ortmayer Stadium.

How it happened: Trailing by 1-0 late in the game, Cambria Smith intercepted a sloppy throw-in by Pomona-Pitzer near the left sideline. After a couple of nifty passes, JJ Weaver threaded a perfect through ball to streaking Duran.

Duran drove a shot from straightaway center, but Pomona-Pitzer goalkeeper Annie Wedel got her fingers on it and for a moment, it looked as if the ball had enough air under it for the defenders to clear it out. However, the ball had just enough topspin on it and bounced into the net.

The Sagehens got on the board first in the 63^rd minute on a well-executed play. A free kick from the right side was played into the box and Mary Stafford deflected a header to Nicole Quilliam who buried it into the net.

The teams started out tight, but the goals opened up the game. After the equalizer, both teams got up and down the field and had some chances, but neither were able to convert.

What it means: Duran's goal and the draw keeps La Verne (5-6-1, 3-4-1 SCIAC) within three points of fourth-place Redlands, who also got a draw against Chapman on Saturday.

Players of the game: Duran got the goal, but it was JJ Weaver who facilitated La Verne's attack all night long. Not only did she assist Duran's goal, the senior held up plays well up front and got off five shots of her own. She also showed off her versatility, playing out in the wings when head coach Lauryn Pehanich chose to keep Weaver and Jessica Hernandez in the lineup at the same time.

Up next: La Verne will travel to Thousand Oaks to face Cal Lutheran on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The Leopards will look to repeat the result on Sept. 20 when they beat the Regals, 2-1.