POMONA, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss on Thursday night in the season opener against Point Loma.
The Broncos took a 1-0 lead into halftime but the Sea Lions rallied for two second-half scores to pull off the comeback victory. CPP will return to action Sunday at 11 a.m. with a home matchup against defending national champion Grand Valley State.
CPP finished Thursday's match with a 9-6 shot advantage but Point Loma put five of its attempts on target.
Late in the first half at the 42:49 mark,
Melanie Ortiz slipped a pass to
Lauren Miller in the middle of the field. Miller launched a 25-yard shot over the Sea Lions' keeper and put CPP ahead 1-0. The assist from Ortiz marked her first point as a Bronco and it was Miller's fourth career goal.
The halftime huddle must have worked for Point Loma though as the visitors struck for the equalizer just three minutes and 35 seconds into the second period. A turnaround shot from Easton Kawawaki slipped past CPP goalie
Ricki Ives and that knotted the score 1-1.
Just a few minutes later, a close-range header by Cori Deason was stopped by an incredible save from Ives to keep the score even.
Deason wouldn't be held off the scoreboard though as she netted the eventual game-winner. With just about 10 minutes to play in regulation, a long pass from Madelon Denbaugh put Deason into the box. Her first shot attempt was saved but her rebound attempt found the back of the net.
Newcomers
Emily Sanchez and
Tasha Inong made starts in their CPP debut. The Broncos battled tough with the 2015 PacWest champion Point Loma squad. CPP will receive another top-notch challenge Sunday in the form of Grand Valley State, a squad that opens its season with a Friday match at Cal State San Bernardino.
