Photo by Bob Palermini, www.palermini.com
*Box score not yet provided
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – For the first time since 2011, the Southern Oregon University women's soccer team took a point off an NAIA Top 25 opponent Monday with a 1-1 draw against No. 8 Westmont at Thorrington Field.
In the 24th minute,
Aislinn Waite passed up the field to
Mia Volpatti, who led
Kiani Pandoliano into the box for a shot that skipped from the right side to just inside the left post and gave the Raiders (1-1-1) the advantage. It was the second goal for Pandoliano, a freshman from Vancouver, Wash., in as many games; she also tallied the go-ahead score in Saturday's 3-1 win over Ottawa (Ariz.).
Volpatti was credited with the assist, her second of the season.
Westmont (3-0-1) accumulated 20 shots to SOU's six and put nine on goal, including Eliya Lowe's equalizer in the 69th minute. After the Warriors sent a kick into the box, Lowe picked up a loose ball that found its way past Raider defenders and took a clear shot from up close.
SOU keeper
Kailey Lemon made eight saves, giving her 23 through three games.
A win would've been the Raiders' first against a Top 25 foe since they knocked off No. 21 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in 2009. Their only other was in 2001, against No. 8 Concordia (Ore.).
They'll appear at Raider Stadium for the first time this week, at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Menlo (Calif.) and 11 a.m. Sunday against UC Merced.
