Photo by Shane Rodrigues

Story by Nathaniel Rodriguez, Sports Information Student Assistant

LA VERNE, CA — Senior night magic loomed late under the lights at Ortmayer Stadium on Wednesday evening, where Vanessa Plascensia sent the Leopards' faithful into a frenzy scoring a golden goal with three minutes remaining in the first overtime period to defeat the Whittier Poets, 1-0.

A fifth-year senior that has earned praise from head coach Lauryn Pehanich for her leadership, knowledge, and expertise, Plascensia connected on La Verne's 13th shot, their best one by a wide margin in a midweek SCIAC shootout. The Leopards had their foot on the gas in overtime trying to corral a loose ball inside the penalty box off a throw-in, when she swooped out of nowhere edging the top nearside corner and bent her golden goal into the top left of the net.

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As beautiful of a play it was, it took Plascensia knowing exactly where to be positioned when the loose ball was coming down in order for the play to develop completely. An intangible that will not be recorded in the box score, the fifth year's knowledge and expertise led her teammates to their first win on home turf this season.

The Poets contested La Verne with 15 shots in 96 minutes and made freshman McKenzie Maggiore earn her keep between the pipes for the Leopards. Maggiore piled onto her decorated freshman campaign with nine saves and a clean sheet against Whittier, moving her into second place amongst SCIAC keepers with 71 saves this season. 

Out of 13 shots, La Verne placed eight of them on the Poets' goal. Four came in the first half, three from senior midfielder Rebecca Fischer who threatened the net with all three shots. Freshman defender Shelbie Mueller had two shots-on-goal for the Leopards in the second half, while sophomore and senior defenders Brianna Wong and Renae Loera also recorded one shot-on-goal apiece. 

Maintaining a 3-12 record with one game remaining on the 2021 schedule, the lady Leopards will travel to Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday for the season finale against the Sagehens at noon.