LA VERNE, Calif. — Occidental won 2-1 at La Verne on Wednesday in league play. Occidental scored once in each half and finished with advantages of 10-5 in shots and 8-4 in shots on goal. Occidental's goalkeeper made three saves over 90 minutes, including two after halftime, as the team improved to 1-2-0 overall and 1-0-0 in league play.
Bella Calemine put Occidental in front at 32:02, scoring off
Zakrie Smith's assist to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Earlier, Occidental generated pressure with corner kicks at 2:10 and 15:17, while Smith forced saves from Sophia Penaflor in the eighth and 17th minutes. La Verne answered after the goal with a shot, two corner kicks and Sofia Chiovare's saved attempt at 36:56, but
Melanie Rodriguez kept Occidental in front. Occidental carried the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
Alessia Sacchi put Occidental back in front at 67:07, scoring off
Jordyn Tribus' assist to make it 2-1 after La Verne had tied the match earlier in the 2nd half.
Earlier, Rodriguez made saves on La Verne shots in the 48th and 51st minutes, and Occidental responded with pressure from
Zakrie Smith, whose 51st-minute shot was saved before a second effort in the 54th minute was stopped by a team save.
La Verne tied it at 57:46, but Occidental earned a corner in the 67th minute and converted moments later through Sacchi. Occidental continued to create chances after retaking the lead, with
Mia Merkelbach forcing a save in the 69th minute and Calemine and Smith combining for three shots from 82:24 to 84:05, including Smith's attempt off the woodwork. The Tigers played through a late stretch that included three Occidental fouls and a La Verne team yellow card, then saw out the half to finish a 2-1 win.
This win marks the first career win in the collegiate coaching career of Occidental Head Coach
Lydia Mitchell! The Tigers are now 1-0 in SCIAC play.
Occidental Top Performers
Alessia Sacchi
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- one game-winning goal
- two points
- one shot on goal
Bella Calemine
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- one goal
- three shots
- two shots on goal
Zakrie Smith
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- one assist
- five shots
- four shots on goal
Melanie Rodriguez
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- three saves
- 90:00 in goal
Jordyn Tribus
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- one assist
