ALISO VIEJO, CA- The Lady Lions earned their first win of the 2018 season against the Firebirds of University of Saint Katherine on Thursday night at the Lion's Den Soccer Stadium.

Soka senior Natalia Gilbert put the Lady Lions on the scoreboard 14 minutes into the match off of a cross from fellow senior Rhea Hartwell. Hartwell served her pass back post, and Gilbert slid towards the goal getting her foot on the end of the cross for her first goal of the season.

With a minute left in the first half, Hartwell netted her first goal of the season and the Lady Lions' second goal of the game. The goal evolved from a set piece driven to the back six by senior Sydney Marin. Marin's pass found the head of sophomore Kaitlyn Haibel, who put her header back across the mouth of the goal to Hartwell, who finished first time.

The Lady Lions scored their third and final goal of the match in the 66^th minute after first-year Jackie Osuna played a deceptive pass down the right flank to Camryn Finnell. Finnell took a touch past her defender, and served her cross mid-goal to Jordan Pritzl. Pritzl re-directed her header back post, tallying her first goal of the season, and Soka's third and final goal of the match.
 
 
 


Notes: This is the third time Soka has faced University of Saint Katherine… The Lady Lions are now 3-0 against the Firebirds… Soka outshot Saint Katherine 42-2… yellow cards were shown to Soka's Natalia Gilbert and Merina Addonigio and to Saint Katheirne's Desiree Motta, Destiny Robles, and Kayla Olivas… a second yellow card was shown to Saint Katherine's Desiree Motta in the 88^th minute, for a red card, forcing the Firebirds to finish the match with ten players.