PacWest Communications
Jared Pine
IRVINE, Calif. – The PacWest got four wins in the first week of the 2021 season, including an impressive 1-0 win for Biola over Stanislaus State in Thursday’s season opener.
Stanislaus State earned a spot in the NCAA West Regional in 2019 and has been one of the region’s top women’s soccer programs. The Warriors outshot the Eagles 10-8, but goalkeeper Anna Boyer made seven saves in the shutout.
Sarah Freed came off the bench for the Eagles and in the 80th minute she scored after a foul for the match’s only goal. Boyer made one more save in the final 10 minutes to lift the Eagles to their first win of the season.
Point Loma also won its season opener, beating San Francisco State 1-0 for head coach Kristi Kiely’s 100th career win. Azusa Pacific won its first match, taking out San Francisco State, 4-0, with Randi Macadangdang scoring one goal and adding an assist. The Cougars dropped their second match of the season against Chico State.
Chaminade lost its season opener against No. 6 Northwest Nazarene, 1-0, but quickly bounced back for a 2-1 win against Central Washington on Saturday to end the trip to the Pacific Northwest with a 1-1 record. Reigning PacWest Player of the Year Randi Fontes scored the first goal of the game, and Shantel Torres-Benito scored the game-winner in the 90th minute.
Concordia tied its season opener against Cal State LA, 1-1, with a goal by Preseason Player of the Year Jadenn Carrillo in the opening minutes of the second half.
Weekly awards for the week of September 1-5
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alana Diaz, Point Loma
F, Fr., 5-6 — Chino Hills, Calif.
Point Loma won its first match of the 2021 season, extending the team’s winning streak to five in a row. The Sea Lions have won every match played in 2021, including the four matches played during the spring season. Diaz scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 triumph over San Francisco State on Saturday. Diaz came off the bench to score her first career goal in the 30th minute, which ended up being the only goal of the game. The play started with a throw-in that landed in the box. Mara Sovde was the first to get to the ball and it bounced off several players in the box. Diaz got to the loose ball and shot with her left foot into the right side of the goal and scored. The win gave head coach Kristi Kiely her 100th career coaching win.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Anna Boyer, Biola
GK, Fr., 5-5 — Colbert, Wash.
Biola opened its season against one of the top teams in the NCAA Division II West Region in Stanislaus State, and earned a 1-0 victory. The Warriors earned a spot in the NCAA West Regional in 2019, while Biola got narrowly squeezed out of a playoff berth despite having one of the best seasons among teams in the region. The Eagles played with something to prove and shutout Stanislaus State. Boyer recorded seven saves in the shutout, facing 10 shots. Stanislaus State was in its offensive half of the field for much of the match, but Boyer handled the pressure perfectly to preserve the shutout in her first match of a regular season. Including her matches played in the spring, she now has a 2-0-0 record in goal for Biola. The Eagles are now playing against Chico State, which also has a 1-0 record on the season.