Oct. 16, 2008

Story courtesy of California Baptist Sports Information Office

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Freshman substitute Amanda Lammers scored late in the first half, and the NAIA’s No. 6-ranked California Baptist University put the clamps down defensively in a 2-0 win over No. 18 Point Loma Nazarene Wednesday afternoon.

The win is the Lancers’ third straight over the Sea Lions, all shutouts, and they improve to 10-3-0 overall, 4-1-0 (12 points) GSAC. It is their fifth win in the past six matches.

PLNU, which was coming off consecutive ties, falls to 8-3-2, 1-2-2 (5 points).

This was the Lancers fifth nationally-ranked opponent in the past seven games, and now halfway through the conference slate, the Lancers have already played the other three conference foes who are ranked in the most recent NAIA Top 25 released yesterday.

“This is the best conference in the country, and we have put ourselves in a position where we have to be prepared for the opposing team’s best effort each game,” said CBU second-year Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. “There is no day off in the GSAC, and the girls realize that. Their work rate, mentality and performances have been great.”

The Lancers had just three shots on goal today. Two of them went in.

In the 37th minute, Lammers collected a ball about 10 yards outside of the area. She beat a trio of Sea Lion defenders, weaved her way into the area and then fired a shot to charging PLNU keeper Cissy Butler’s left and inside the right post. Lammers’ fourth goal of the season stood into the intermission.

“It was a great goal and a world class effort on Amanda’s part,” said St. Clair. “She had perfect touches into the space and then had a great finish. She is a sponge, and her success is a result of her hard work to this point. We needed that type of individual effort, and she stepped up today.”

With the Sea Lions pushing forward for the equalizer, the Lancers took advantage of some numbers late in the game. In the 84th minute, Kylee Nicassio carried the ball across the midfield line, and found Fabiola da Silva in the middle of the park. da Silva one-touched a through ball to the left side where All-American Jacquelyn Witz ran onto it and ripped a shot over the outstretched arms of Butler and into the net for her ninth goal of the season.

Both teams took 12 shots, and CBU keeper Emily Evanson collected six saves for her fourth shutout of the season.