Photo by Shira Abend-Oneal

Story by Nathaniel Rodriguez, Sports Information Student Assistant 

LA VERNE, CA — In a tough women's soccer matchup against the visiting ranked Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, the University of La Verne women's soccer team was unable to score in a 4-0 defeat.

The Sagehens entered as the 25th top-ranked team in NCAA Division III women's soccer, and the Leopards made every effort to try and stop their threatening offense. Two minutes into the match, however, Pomona Pitzer forward Hannah Mandell weaved through the 18-yard box and snuck the Sagehens' first shot attempt into the left side of the goal to start the scoring. 

Charlotte Tapp, midfielder for the Sagehens, notched another score for her squad during the 18th minute on an unassisted goal that found the top left corner of the net. Pomona-Pitzer exited the first half leading 3-0 after a 32nd minute goal from senior captain Emily Tomz.

Leopards' sophomore Evelyn Saldivar took over in the goal for the second half, seeking to take advantage of her first playing opportunity since the season-opening loss to Occidental College. The Anaheim native collected three saves in the final 45 minutes, including a full-extension dive after changing direction from right to left to block a shot off her fingertips to open the half. Saldivar prevented the Sagehens from scoring until midfielder Caitlyn Pham bent a free-kick opportunity outside of the keeper's diving reach to blanket the match with 15 seconds remaining. 

The Leopards fall to 1-6 overall following the loss, and their SCIAC record sits at 1-2.

They look to regain momentum on Saturday, September 25th when they host Chapman University at 7:00 p.m.