LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Chaminade University women's soccer team on Monday was looking for a statement win as they continue to chase the University of Hawai'i Hilo atop the Pacific West Conference standings.
However Biola University had other ideas, scoring the game's lone goal just seconds into the second half as they handed the Silverswords their first PacWest loss, 1-0, at Al Barbour Field, and also snapped their five-match unbeaten streak.
Chaminade fell to 7-4-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the PacWest. Although they failed to make ground against conference leader UH Hilo, which played Point Loma to a 2-2 draw in San Diego earlier in the afternoon, they maintained their second-place spot in the standings with 14 points. The Vulcans have 20 points on the season while the Sea Lions and Concordia University Irvine both have 13.
Biola, which snapped its four-match losing skid, improved to 4-10-1 and 3-5 in the PacWest.
The 'Swords were the aggressors in the first half, taking eight shots while the Eagles were held to just two.
Gracie Bowers (Murrieta, Calif./California Baptist/Vista Murrieta HS), who was back in the lineup after missing Saturday's match at Azusa Pacific due to an injury, took four of their shots. One of them came inches away from hitting pay dirt, caroming off the crossbar in the 11th minute. The result was a nil-nil score after 45 minutes.
The Eagles took the second-half kickoff and quickly worked the ball into the 'Swords' box.
Naomi Takata (Honolulu/Pearl City), who earlier in the day was named the PacWest Defender of the Week, challenged the Biola attacker in the left side. The ball trickled to Peyton Nelson and, with Takata out of position and a single Chaminade defender in her way, flicked a shot into the net for the goal just 21 seconds into the half.
It was the first non-penalty kick goal Takata has allowed since the team's Sept. 23 non-conference match at UH Hilo, a span of 597:44 minutes.
The 'Swords had several opportunities for the equalizer including at the 68th minute when
Lece Aviles (Aztec, N.M./New Mexico State/Aztec HS) had a shot from the right-side of the box deflected by a defender. On the ensuing corner kick,
Kira Nishiki (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) attempted a header but that try was also blocked by a Biola defender.
Bowers and
Lindsey Wilson (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) had two looks but both floated wide right. Bowers had Chaminade's final crack at the net but her on-target shot in the 87th minute was grabbed by Biola keeper Savanna Tavares.
Chaminade had 15 shots on the evening, led by Bowers' six. The Eagles were held to just four shots in the match.
Takata finished with three saves while Tavares had five stops.
The Silverswords are at Point Loma Thursday in yet another important PacWest match that has postseason implications. Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. Hawai'i time.
