Oct. 16, 2005

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Behind a resurgent Tiger attack, the Pacific women's soccer team tallied their second straight Big West Conference victory in as many games, shutting out UC Irvine, 2-0, on Sunday, October 16. With the win the Tigers moved to 9-6-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the Big West while the Anteaters dropped to 4-11-1 overall and 0-4-0 in conference.

The Tigers took control of the game early as their offensive attack came flying out of the gates, pressuring the Anteaters' defense and scoring on their first shot of the game. Sophomore Bunny Dickson (Millbrae, Calif.) continued her impressive run, notching her third goal in three games and her second game-winner of the weekend for the Tigers. Dickson scored Pacific's first goal just under five minutes into the opening half as she worked herself free inside the middle of UC Irvine's defense. Dickson took a pass from junior Jennifer Smiley (Carmichael, Calif.) that she fired into the bottom right corner of the net. The goal was Dickson's fourth of the season, which temporarily put her into a tie for the team lead. The assist was Smiley's first of the season.

With the Tigers ahead by one goal heading into the second half and Dickson tied for the team lead in goals on the season, sophomore Mandi Van Dorn (Danville, Calif.) posted an insurance goal for Pacific in the 71st minute, and reestablished herself as the team's leading scorer. Van Dorn found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season as she redirected a crossing pass, heading the ball over the goal line at the near post. The pass came from Dickson, tallying her second assist on the season.

With the offense working hard, the Tigers' defense continued their excellent play, posting their fifth shutout of the season and their first of conference play. The Tigers only scare of the game came in the 77th minute as the Anteaters fired a shot off the crossbar that rebounded to Frankee Kelly who redirected the ball towards the open net of the Tigers. However, sophomore Audrey Booth (Salt Lake City, Utah), playing on the post, cleared out the shot, preserving Pacific's two goal advantage.

The home win was the Tigers' seventh of the season, tying Pacific's all-time record for home victories in a season. With one home game remaining, the Tigers will look to set a new all-time mark as they play host to the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara on Friday, October 21. The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm.