WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Whitman College women's soccer team closed its season-opening weekend with a hard-fought 0-0 tie against the University of La Verne on Sunday night at James Hayner Field.
The Blues (0-1-1) and Leopards (0-2-1) each produced moments of pressure but neither side could find a breakthrough over 90 minutes. Whitman goalkeeper
Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky started and made one save in the opening half before
Alyssa Murakami entered after halftime and stopped all four shots she faced to preserve the shutout.
Whitman generated three shots in each half and finished with six overall.
Emoree Lash put the Blues' first shot on goal in the fifth minute, forcing a save from La Verne goalkeeper Sophia Penaflor.
Erisa Baba added Whitman's other shot on target in the 78th minute, but Penaflor made the stop.
La Verne held an 8-6 edge in total shots and placed five attempts on frame, with the bulk of its pressure arriving in the second half. Murakami was equal to the challenge, making saves on shots by Maren Handel in the 52nd minute, Natalie Kooba in the 63rd minute, Jessica Figueroa in the 64th minute and Bridget Ward in the 74th minute.
The Leopards created one of the match's better opportunities early in the second half, but Murakami's save on Handel helped keep the contest level. Whitman's defense also limited La Verne's set-piece opportunities, conceding just one corner kick.
Whitman held a 3-1 advantage in corner kicks, while La Verne narrowly led possession, 52 percent to 48 percent. The match grew more physical after halftime, as all seven of Whitman's fouls came in the second period. La Verne received the game's only yellow card when Laney Cutler was cautioned in the 87th minute.
The draw gave Whitman its first result of the young campaign and marked the Blues' first shutout of the season. La Verne also came away with a clean sheet behind Penaflor's five saves.
#GoWhitman
