CMS Women's Soccer Falls to Redlands in SCIAC Opener

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Riley Zitar scored her first career goal in the 79th minute but it wasn't enough to spur a comeback as the Redlands women's soccer team was able to hang on for a 2-1 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the SCIAC opener for both teams on Wednesday evening at Pritzlaff Field.

With the loss, CMS slips to 2-4 on the year, and 0-1 in the SCIAC, while Redlands improves to 1-3. 

Redlands scored early goals in both halves to take a 2-0 lead, which held until Zitar struck for her first goal off a cross from Kaitlyn Helfrich. The ball deflected and rolled to Zitar at the top of the 18, and she one-timed a shot inside the left post for her first career goal. 

The Athenas kept the pressure on down the stretch, and earned a late corner kick in the final seconds, which resulted in a dramatic finish with several players down in the goalmouth as a loose ball bounced around, but a tying volley from Annie Parizeau was deflected over the crossbar by a Redlands defender as the clock ran out. 

Peyton Fendrich opened the scoring for Redlands at the 4:17 mark when she one-timed a cross from Tori Zielinski from inside the top of the six-yard box. The score stayed 1-0 at the half, as Courtney Stewart had several saves, including one tough stop off a rocket from Laurel Ovenell off a 30-yard free kick. 

Just 3:09 into the second half, Sami Salinas finished a long diagonal ball from Alessandra Echauri from just outside the top of the box. 

Stewart finished with five saves for Redlands, while Sadie Brown had two saves for the Athenas.

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to La Verne for an 11 a.m. contest.