The California Lutheran University women’s soccer team earned a spot in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament for the tenth consecutive season.  The semi-final games began on Nov. 5 with No. 3 Cal Lutheran at No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and No. 4 Pomona-Pitzer at No. 1 Redlands.

In the semi-final game the Regals struck first against the Athenas, and freshman Nikole Prelooker punched in the goal in the 22^nd minute of the game at Pritzlaff Field.  The Athenas responded in a matter of seconds and tied the game in the first half.

Senior forward Raquel Weckhurst scored next within the first three minutes of the second half, giving the Regals the lead, 2-1.  Weckhurst’s goal, her 13th of the season, helped the Regals upset the Athenas and claimed their ticket to the SCIAC championship game.

On Nov. 7 the Cal Lutheran Regals soccer team hosted the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in the SCIAC title game.  The Sagehens defeated the Regals 1-0 and escaped William Rolland Stadium with the conference title.

The game kicked off around 7 p.m. but most of the action wouldn’t occur until after intermission.  Weckhurst made the first shot of the game in the 12^th minute, but the two teams equally dominated the field throughout the first half.  They both recorded four shots each and the half ended in a scoreless tie.

“The first half was pretty slow, but after the break the energy on the field completely changed.  Both teams displayed much more aggression and intensity throughout the second half,” Peter Schulman, Cal Lutheran sophomore said.

In the second half the Regals dominated possession of the ball and outshot their opponents 12-3, but the one goal of the entire game belonged to the Sagehens’ forward Abby Onderwyzer Gold. 

The loss in the conference championship game indicated the end of the season for the Regals.   

Wearing their all white uniforms, the players huddled together one last time as a team.  The family members and friends in the stands all stared into the sea of white jerseys and for a brief moment, the stadium fell silent for the first time that night.   

Once the Regals stepped off the field, their loved ones greeted them with high-fives, signs and flowers acknowledging the hard work of Cal Lutheran’s athletes.      

“I used to think winning and scoring goals were the most important aspect of the game, but it’s the memories and the relationships formed on the team that outweigh all of that. At the end of the day, titles and records are broken, but you will always have your team,” Weckhurst said.  “Even though that was my last game at Cal Lutheran, I know I have friendships on the team that will last forever.”

Along with Weckhurst, the Regals bid farewell to senior forwards Bianca Deardorff and Jenny Kraska, midfielders Deanna Dakar, Brittany Eremita and Katie Moyer, and defenders Mallory Carcich, Jenna Malinowski and Julie Watson. 

Tate Rutland
Staff Writer
Published November 11th, 2015