LA JOLLA, Calif. – What has been an incredible run for Point Loma women’s soccer continued into the postseason on Saturday as the Sea Lions extended their unbeaten streak to 17 with a 2-1 win over Chico State to advance to the NCAA West Regional semifinals.
 
BOX SCORE        PLNU PRESS CONFERENCE
 
After trading goals in the first half, PacWest Player of the Year Julia Glaser broke the tie with just over four minutes left in the game to give No. 4 Point Loma (16-1-1) the 2-1 win over No. 5 Chico State (10-2-6).
 
The Sea Lions controlled play throughout the second half, creating many scoring opportunities. The Wildcats withstood the onslaught through the first 40 minutes of the second half as the Sea Lions had four shots on goal to none. Point Loma got back on the attack again late in the half and drew a handball in the box to set up Glaser’s game-winning penalty kick to the upper-left corner.
 
Glaser’s goal was her 14th this season and it extended her single-season record for game-winning goals to 10. The victory is Point Loma’s 10th win by the margin of a single goal.
 
The Sea Lions’ semifinal opponent will be host and No. 1 seed UC San Diego, which won the CCAA tournament and took first place in the conference in the regular season. The Tritons have only lost two matches all year, and Point Loma has now beaten both of those teams: Chico State and Cal State San Marcos. The Sea Lions have also beaten Hawai`i Pacific, which is the only team to tie with UC San Diego so far this year. However, the Tritons defeated Western Washington, which is the team that handed Point Loma its only loss all year.
 
Point Loma started the scoring in the first-round encounter with Chico State. In the 10th minute, Ashlee Smith blasted a shot into the back of the net to earn the early lead. Glaser and Bella Diaz were credited with the assists on the goal, which was Smith’s second this year.
 
Chico State didn’t need much time to respond and knot the score again as Erin Woods made the equalizer in the 13th minute. It was only the fifth goal that the Point Loma defense has allowed all year, which is still one better than the previous PacWest record.
 
Point Loma has won all 10 of its matches away from home this season going into Sunday’s match against UC San Diego, which will begin at noon. In the other half of the bracket, No. 3 Western Washington defeated No. 6 Sonoma State to set up a fourth meeting this year with No. 2 Concordia (Ore.), which beat No. 7 Seattle Pacific later in the afternoon.