Aug. 20, 2006
Stockton, Calif. - For the second time in as many exhibition games, the Tigers posted four goals to secure the win as the Pacific women's soccer team defeated the Yokosuka Seagulls, 4-2, on Sunday, August 20. The win was the Tigers' third of the exhibition season to close out the preseason with a 3-0 record.
From the outset, the Tigers pushed the action into their offensive third, using their speed to break through the Seagulls' defense to create scoring opportunities. Just 3:39 into the contest the Tigers had their first goal as junior Bunny Dickson (Millbrae, Calif.) finished off a 4-v-0 attack after taking a cross into the 18 from junior Carla Vellutini (Elk Grove, Calif.)
With the Seagulls playing an offside trap defensively, the Tigers were forced into 17 offsides throughout the day. Despite the trap, Pacific was able to take advantage of well timed through balls one of which came in the 22nd minute as junior Natalie McCrackin (Rio Linda, Calif.) found herself free behind the defense. One-on-one, McCrackin chipped the 'keeper to put the Tigers up two goals. The assist was credited to junior Mandi Van Dorn (Danville, Calif.).
Down two goals, the Seagulls continued to press the Tigers' defense, breaking through for their first goal in the 33rd minute. Ami Otaki did her own imitation of the Tigers' offense as she found space behind the Tigers' defense, beating sophomore 'keeper Ashley Stubblefield (Stockton, Calif.) to a loose ball that she then into the back of net.
Shortly before the half the Tigers answered back to move the score to 3-1 as sophomore Andrea Carrara (Belmont, Calif.) scored an unassisted goal for Pacific. Once again free behind the defense, Carrara dribbled the Seagulls' 'keeper and finished into an open net to give the Tigers a two goal lead heading into the break.
Coming back out of halftime, the Tigers once again struck first in the half, notching their fourth and final goal in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Laura King (Livermore, Calif.) took a pass from senior Suzy Peterson (Granite Bay, Calif.) and one touched it into the top right corner to give the Tigers a three goal advantage.
Despite the deficit, the Seagulls never quite as they notched one last attempt at a comeback. For the second time in the game, Otaki found the back of the net off a centering pass from Asuka Ishida.
On the day the Tigers outshot the Seagulls 22-14 overall and 12-6 in shots on goal. For the Tigers, Stubblefield posted four saves while her counterpart, Fubuki Kuno posted eight saves.
The Tigers will next be in action on Friday, August 25, as they open the 2006 regular season against Portland State at Stagg Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm.
