ALISO VIEJO, CA- Four Lions tallied goals for Soka University in their 10-0 win over the Keelhaulers of Cal Maritime on Friday evening at the Lions' Den Soccer Stadium.
Soka scored their first seven goals in the opening twenty minutes of play, netting their first three goals in the first ten minutes.
Samantha Barrera scored four goals,
Araceli Soto-Garcia scored three,
Roxana Ortiz netted two, and
Emely Yepez converted her chance rounding out the Lions' offensive rout. Earning assists on the night were
Sasha Brafman,
Ashley Aranda,
Abby Hiatt, Barrera, Soto-Garcia, Ortiz, and Yepez.
Barrera netted the first goal of the match and her first goal of the season 1:39 seconds into the game and scored three more goals in the 19
th, 57
th, and 75
th minutes of play. Barrera's four-goal night adds her to an elite list of Soka Lions who have scored three or more goals in one game. That list includes teammates
Araceli Soto-Garcia and
Sasha Brafman and former Soka greats Natalia Gilbert, Denim Belville, Alise Hildreth, Aubree West, Skyler McClanahan, Ariana Vasquez, Simone Barclay, and Yuka Crickmar.
"Tonight was a successful night for the team," said Head Coach
Wendy Espejel. "We have been working on our attack and saw it come together during the game. It was great to watch first-year players score their first collegiate goal as well as returning players get their first goals of the season."
The Lions look to continue building off their momentum when they return home on Sunday, October 2, 2022, to face the Pacific Union College Pioneers. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
Game Notes: Lions are now 2-6-2 overall and 2-2-1 in Cal Pac Conference play… Soka took 39 shots and found frame 24 times, forcing Cal Maritime's Maddy Dack to make 14 saves.
