ROCKLIN, Calif. – The Warriors came into Saturday with an unbeaten streak lasting nearly a month and a half. With the Vanguard University Lions in town, a team Jessup Women's Soccer have never beaten, it took all 90 minutes before anyone could breathe, but history was in fact made on Warrior Field.
 
Head Coach David Nolan stated after the match, "It wasn't a pretty win in the end, but it's a sure sign of the determination these ladies have to see a game out."
 
Jessup took little time before they would net their first goal of the day, as Alhan Bakideh played a near-perfect ball up the field to Kaylee Gillespie, setting up a one-on-one chance. Gillespie converted, as her 14th-minute strike pushed her GSAC lead to ten goals this season.
 
Five minutes later, Gillespie added to her season total after a great cross across the box from Kye Johnson set up the strike to make it 2-0.
 
Gillespie nearly had a hat trick as her shot in the 26th minute was turned away on a diving save, but right in the perfect positioning was Johnson, who placed the rebound into the goal to push Jessup's lead to 3-0.
 
It would not be smooth sailing from that point on, as Alyssa Fong was Vanguard put her team on the board with a strike late in the first half. Fong put the pressure on for real late in the second half, as a free kick in the 81st minute has Jessup's advantage cut from three to just one.
 
Vanguard would continue to press for an equalizer, but the Jessup backline built a brick wall that could not be penetrated. Backed by nine saves from Oliva Foulk, the Warriors held on for long enough to pick up a victory.
 
Nolan spoke on the Lions' second-half presence, adding, "It was a game of 2 halves for sure. We hit the ground running in the first half and took our chances. In the second half, we had to adjust defensively, and the team adapted great. "
 
The win over Vanguard is historic for the Warriors, as it is the first time in women's soccer program history that the Warriors have defeated the Lions.
 
Along with the history, Jessup (9-2-2; 3-0-2 GSAC) pushes their unbeaten streak to 11 as they remain at the top of the GSAC standings, as they now sit at 11 points.
 
On the schedule next for Jessup is the final road contest of the season, as the Warriors will be in Fullerton on Saturday for a 10 a.m. kickoff at Hope International.
   
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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter and Instagram).