HONOLULU – 2021 is turning out to be a pretty special year for the Chaminade University women's soccer team.
Shayla Padilla (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Oral Roberts University/Leilehua HS) broke open a scoreless game by booting her first goal as a Silversword 18 minutes into the second half and Chaminade made it stand the rest of the way for a 1-0 victory over Biola on Saturday at Saint Louis Field.
The victory was the 'Swords' first-ever over the Eagles in four meetings and improved them to 4-4 on the year, tying them with the 2016 team for the most wins in a season.
Paired with their win over Azusa Pacific on Oct. 4, it also represents the first time in team history the Silverswords claimed two victories over teams from the PacWest's Southern California pod in the same season. The SoCal pod is traditionally where the power of the conference resides.
By posting the clean sheet, goalkeeper
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City) tallied the seventh shutout of her career, breaking the mark held by Brandee Lane. She also tied Lane for the most career wins (8) and wins in a single season (4).
Biola fell to 4-6-1 and, like Chaminade, has a 2-2 conference mark.
The first half was played mostly under rainy conditions that keep conditions cool but slick at times.
The weather cleared at halftime and, in the 64th minute,
Dayna Nishimura (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) lobbed a kick over the defense near the midfield line. With a defender on her hip, Padilla raced to the ball and one-timed a 10-yard shot past charging Eagles keeper Anna Boyer into the middle of the net. Although it was Padilla's first goal in the royal blue and white, it was her sixth career collegiate goal, having five of them at Oral Roberts.
Nishimura also got the first point of her career with the assist.
Although Biola was now a team in desperation as they searched for the matching score, the 'Swords managed to fend them off. Chaminade even managed to counter the Eagles' aggression by out-shooting them, 7-to-3, following Padilla's score.
Randi Fontes (Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawai'i/University of Hawai'i/Pearl City HS) took five shots and tied a career-high with four shots on-goal. Padilla added two shots while
Tiare Kahalewai (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Saint Martin's University/Mililani HS) took two cracks at the net coming off the bench.
Chaminade had 14 shots, half being on-goal while Biola attempted 11, but just three were on target.
Takata made three saves while Boyer recorded six saves.
The Silverswords will host their final home game on Monday, Oct. 25, against Point Loma at the Saint Louis Field pitch. Kickoff on Senior Day begins at 10 a.m.
