The Regals soccer team improved to 15-2 on the season and 11-0 in SCIAC with their defeat of the Occidental Tigers on Oct. 17.

The Regals high-powered offense was held to only one goal in the match. The defense for CLU anchored the team throughout the entire game, allowing only seven shots on goal.

A great performance by sophomore goalie Kristin Bailey also provided a great boost for the Regals. Bailey made a crucial save in the final minute that not only locked up the win for California Lutheran University, but also gave the sophomore her 11th shutout of the season, which ties the school’s single season record.

“I think as a defensive unit we have set goals to not allow other teams to score. When we step onto the field there is an expectation to get a shut out,” said senior Kristen DiPippo.

The Regals recorded five shots in the first seven minutes of the match.

In the seventh minute of the match DiPippo sent a great ball over an Oxy defender’s head to a charging Kristina Hulse.

Hulse was able to win the ball and lob it over Occidental’s goalie for what appeared to be a sure goal, but an Oxy defender was able to save the goal with a sliding kick to clear the ball. This set up a corner kick that provided the Regals with the only goal of the match.

Senior Lindsey Armenta capitalized on DiPippo’s corner kick. Armenta was able to head the ball past Oxy’s goalie and into the net putting the Regals up 1-0.
The Regals kept the Oxy goalkeeper busy all night with 19 shots on goal.

In the 23rd minute CLU looked to raise the score with a shot by junior Bailey Marquez. Marquez received a pass from leading scorer Taylor Will, and fired the ball towards the goal, but was denied by a difficult deflection from Oxy goalkeeper Tayler Renshaw.

The Regals headed into halftime with the score remaining 1-0.

The second half was similar for the Regals. In the 54th minute senior Nicole Rains found a wide-open goal, but fired her shot over the cross bar. A minute later junior Stephanie Gilbert received a cross from freshman Mallory Carcich and headed it over the cross bar as well.

The Regals defense played well. In the 88th minute, with the game on the line, Bailey made the play of the game.

An Oxy defender received a corner kick and fired it at the top of the net for what appeared to be a sure goal, but Bailey was able to leap and get just enough hand on it to tip it over and out of play.

“The only thing going through my head was ‘thank God the ball went over the crossbar,’” said Bailey.

The clock ran out as the Regals cleared the ball on the following corner kick.

The victory over Occidental provided the Regals with their eighth straight victory and put them one step closer to their ultimate goal of the SCIAC championship.

Ty Olson
Staff Writer
Published Oct. 24, 2012