Athenas hold UC Santa Cruz scoreless in 2-0 win

Claremont, CA – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women soccer team bounced back from yesterday's loss to Biola with a 2-0 victory over UC Santa Cruz (0-3-0). CMS (2-1-0) had a frustrating start in the opening half, but came to life in the second thanks to goals from senior Katelyn Faust (CMC) and freshman Gabrielle Clouse (CMC). The Athenas outshot the Banana Slugs 22 to 7 and maintained their clean sheet at home this season. Keeper senior Kelly McConnell (HMC) was rarely challenged and had four saves while UC Santa Cruz's keeper Selina Davila Olivera had eight. 

Both teams had a rough start in the first half as they struggled to string quality passes in the offensive half. The Athenas had a tough time to find a clear chance in the opposing box as the Santa Cruz defense kept the home side in check. The majority of CMS shots were taken in traffic and hardly tested the keeper. 

The Banana Slugs almost gave CMS a scare in the 39^th minute when Kacie Ring executed a header off a corner kick. Fortunately for the Athenas, the header attempt bounced off the left post and was cleared away by the defense.

After regrouping at halftime, the Athenas offense finally woke up in the second half. In the 57^th minute, CMS almost broke the deadlock as Faust launched a hard shot from the left of the box straight at the keeper. Senior Laynee Laube (CMC) pounced at the deflection and slipped the ball into the net, but the celebration was short-lived as the referee called her offside.

In the 61^st minute, the Banana Slugs almost had a quality chance to equalize the game. Holding possession in the middle of the pitch, Megan Carey bolted past several CMC midfielders towards their box on the counter attack. With two defenders coming towards her a couple feet away, Carey teed off for a shot; however, she mishit her attempt as the ball rolled slowly to McConnell for an easy save. 

A minute later the Athenas finally broke the deadlock to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman Samantha Lee (CMC) darted down the right wing to the attacking half and got past her defender to deliver a low cross. The pass made it's way to Faust in the center of the box who then shot a roller between the keeper's legs for her second goal of the season. 

The Athenas doubled their lead in the 79^th minute thanks to a clever read from sophomore Catherine Leon (CMC). After receiving the ball in the center of the box, Leon noticed the keeper coming towards her to take away the shot. The sophomore slipped a pass to an open Clouse in the left of the box who easily found the back of the net. 

The women's soccer team will head over to San Antonio next weekend for a two-game road trip, facing Trinity on Sept. 9 at 4 p.m. and Hardin-Simmons on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. 

Box Score

By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant

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