Regals Earn Convincing Win in Home Opener

Photo Credit: Mariah Zermeno
Photo Credit: Mariah Zermeno

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.- The California Lutheran University women's soccer team grabbed a convincing 3-0 win over Whitworth (Wash.) behind a two-assist performance from Darya Rasoli and goals from Alexandra Fagerberg, Remi Miller and Isabella Veljacic.

The Regals stay unbeaten as they improve to 2-0-1 on the season while the Pirates fell to 1-2 overall.

Cal Lutheran enjoyed majority of the possession in the early minutes of the match, looking lively on the attack. The violet and gold opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Trinity Martinez found space down the wing and picked out Fagerberg with a cross to the back post. The junior calmly finished her opportunity, slotting it into the back of the net to give her team a 1-0 advantage.

The Pirates did well to get back into the game, nearly finding an equalizer on multiple occasions. However, Cal Lutheran goalkeeper Alexa Soto was on her game, denying Whitworth's Kendall Sharp in her one-on-one opportunity in the 37th minute.

The Regals doubled their lead at the stroke of halftime when they won a throw-in with just seconds remaining in the first half. Rasoli received the throw and quickly whipped in a cross to Miller who showed great composure to bury her opportunity and make the score 2-0.

CLU stayed in control for much of the second half, keeping possession while still advancing with the intent to score.

Whitworth nearly found their goal in the 59th minute, but Soto was once again equal to the shot, just barely getting a fingertip to the long-range effort.

Sonia Chan got in on the action, hitting the crossbar from just outside the box in the 65th minute, nearly making the score 3-0.

But the Regals would go on to secure the victory with their third and final goal in the 69th minute when Isabella Veljacic found herself on the end of another Rasoli cross to score her first collegiate goal in the violet and gold.

Soto was outstanding between the posts, making five saves and keeping her second clean sheet of the season.

Also tallying shots on goal were Natalia Valladares and Trinity Martinez.

CLU looks to continue their winning ways when they open Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. when they travel to take on Whittier.

Box Score: CLU 3, WC 0
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director