Photo by Shanes Rodrigues

Story by Nathan Rodriguez, Sports Information Student Assistant

La Verne, CA — One goal proved to be the women's soccer difference-maker on Saturday night at Ortmayer Stadium when the Redlands Bulldogs traveled to the University of La Verne for a 1-0 conference victory against the Leopards.

La Verne played a hard-fought match but drew the small end of the wishbone at home. Despite a great game by sophomore keeper Evelyn Saldivar in her third start of the year, the Bulldogs were able to find the net behind her once in the 30th minute for what resulted to be the game-winner.

Bulldogs' graduate student forward Eva Vlassopoulus drove the ball up the pitch's far side near the La Verne corner with just over 15 minutes to play. As Vlassopoulus approached the goal line far of the net, she passed the ball back near the middle of the penalty box to first-year defender Malia Kuhl. Calm and collected, Kuhl drilled an open shot past a diving Saldivar to her right with 14:53 remaining in the first half for the tally.

Although she suffered the loss, Saldivar made several ESPN-worthy plays between the pipes with some help from her backline to keep the quiet Leopards offense within reach. Just prior to allowing the lone notch, Saldivar saved Kuhl's first shot that was headed for the bottom far corner of the net. Instead, the keeper left her feet and dove right to keep the game scoreless.

Leopards' junior defender Danielle Bennett will not get credited for a save, but certainly saved her goalkeeper from another Bulldogs' scoring opportunity minutes before they got on the board. Saldivar had approached an incoming ball near the top of the box and consequently first-year forward Sami Salinas was able to attack the Leopards' net. The shot was certain to bounce between the pipes until Bennett swooped in from the near side of the goal to deflect the ball back towards midfield to come up with the emergency block.

In the 65th minute, Bulldogs' junior midfielder Taylor Pisan struck a shot with her left foot that was bending for the far corner of the net. Saldivar committed to a full-extension dive to her left and reeled the ball in to keep the Leopards within striking distance. The Leopards' keeper was credited with eight saves in the contest. 

Redlands improved to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in SCIAC following the victory. La Verne lost their season's tenth match and owns a 1-6 SCIAC record. The Leopards' next test will come on the road against Caltech at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.