THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.  Senior goalkeeper Haley Case came up with five saves, including a pair of diving stops late in the second half, to keep Whitman College's women's soccer team within striking distance of Cal Lutheran University, but the host Regals made an early goal stand up in holding off Whitman, 1-0, in a non-conference contest Saturday at CLU's Rolland Stadium.

Case finished the game for Whitman (0-1) with five saves against one goal allowed just 2:17 into the first half from Kali Youngdahl of CLU (1-0), a marker that allowed the Regals to claim victory in the season opener for both teams.

Lena de Guzman nearly found the equalizer 36 seconds later but her shot sailed over the crossbar to end Whitman's quick retaliation attempt.

Late in the opening half Whitman's Saba Zewdie launched a pair of shots on frame but CLU's Coral Hasley stopped both shots to allow the home team to take their slim, one-goal lead into the halftime break.

Whitman pressure in its attacking third in the early seconds of the 80th minute almost netted a score as Sarah Strozyk's shot was saved but not controlled by Hasley and the rebound got to the feet of first-year Sofia Ellington, but in trying to curl her shot past Hasley and the Regal defenders it skirted wide of the post to save CLU.

Whitman continues its early-season road trip into Southern California with its next match, a non-conference tilt Sunday, Sept. 4 at Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. Kick off is scheduled for 11 a.m.