CMS Women's Soccer Falls 1-0 in First Sixth Street Rivalry Game

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Athena Manthouli had eight saves, but the Pomona-Pitzer women's soccer team was able to get one through which proved to be the difference as the Sagehens took a 1-0 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the first of two Sixth Street rivalry games this season on Wednesday night at Pritzlaff Field.

With the loss, CMS slips to 6-2-2 on the season and 3-2-2 in SCIAC as it enters the second half of conference play. Pomona-Pitzer remains undefeated and improves to 8-0-2 and 4-0-2 in SCIAC. 

The two teams had an evenly matched first half, with each side taking five shots, and each goalie making two saves. CMS had some chances early, as Annie McKinley nearly put the Athenas ahead in just the fourth minute, when she hit the crossbar after CMS earned a corner kick, and Kaitlyn Helfrich had her shot saved in the 16th minute. 

At the start of the second half, though, Pomona-Pitzer was able to seize some momentum, and broke through with 29:01 to play when Ciannah Correa was played in alone by Hannah Mandell and finished to make it a 1-0 game. 

CMS nearly got back even in the closing minutes off a Sagehen turnover, as Sunshine D'Elia was able to work herself free for a shot at the top of the 18-yard box, but Pomona-Pitzer goalie Naomi Meurice was able to make a diving save to keep it a 1-0 game. 

The Athenas will be back at home on Saturday for another key SCIAC game, taking on Cal Lutheran at 7 p.m. The last time the two teams met was in the NCAA Regional finals, which CMS won on penalty kicks after playing to a 0-0 tie.