ROCKLIN, Calif. – The William Jessup women's soccer squad put their perfect 7-0 record on the line Saturday as they began the 2015 GSAC schedule with a match against the nation's 12th ranked Vanguard Lions. Jessup got on the board early and looked poised to create an upset, but an unlucky break in the second half sent them home with their first loss of the year.
The Warriors looked poised out of the gates to keep their perfect record intact. They controlled possession in their attacking third for the majority of the first 20-minutes. Just seven minutes into Saturday's contest, the Warriors found themselves on the board with a quick 1-0 lead. Junior Celia Rangel (Bakersfield, CA) headed the ball past the keeper to freshman Yvette Perez who finished in front of the open net. The goal was Perez's 8th of the season, tying her for the most in the GSAC.
Vanguard got their chance to equalize the game in the 38th minute, when they were awarded a penalty kick after a forward was tackled in the box on a counterattack. Madison Lopp would take the penalty, and she converted by driving the ball into the inside left netting.
To start the second half, Jessup came out fired up, looking to upset the highly ranked Lions. However, the Lions would steal away the momentum in the 60th minute when Alex Bradshaw headed in a corner kick to put her side up 2-1. The Warriors would fight back to try and equalize the game; however, the tying goal would not come as they narrowly fell to a tough opponent.
In net for the Warriors Saturday was freshman Alison Marlow (Huntington, Beach, CA). Marlow recorded 3 saves as she suffered her first collegiate defeat. Jessup now sits at 7-1 on the season and 0-1 in GSAC play.
The Warriors will get back to business on Wednesday when they travel to Santa Cruz to take on the University of California-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. Jessup returns home on October 15, following a three-game conference road trip, to play host to the Firestorm of Arizona Christian.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
