Women’s Soccer: Lopp goal lifts Lions

In a battle of perennial Golden State Athletic Conference title contenders that had been lopsided in recent years, Tuesday’s women’s soccer clash between host Vanguard and Westmont was Lopp-decided.

Vanguard junior forward Madison Lopp stepped into a cross from senior Alex Bachman and drilled it into the upper left corner of the net from the top of the 18-yard box in the sixth minute of overtime. The booming goal, the team-leading sixth of the season for Lopp, gave No. 10-ranked Vanguard its first win over the No. 3-ranked Warriors since 2012.

Since Vanguard swept the two-match series in 2012, Westmont was 5-0-1 against the Lions, including three straight victories in the GSAC postseason tournament.

But Lopp, who had not taken a shot in regulation, found the net to end her career futility against Westmont and put the Lions (8-2, 3-0 in conference) alone atop the conference standings.

It was the eighth straight victory and shutout for the Lions, who handed Westmont (9-1-1, 2-1) its first loss of the season.

“It feels great,” Lopp said of her 28th career goal for the Lions, her fourth career game-winner and her first deciding goal this season. “All these years we’ve been here, we just really wanted to beat [the Warriors]. I’m a junior, so we haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here, and even a year before that. We’ve worked really hard this season and every game our chemistry is getting better. We’re really excited.”

Vanguard Coach Randy Dodge called it the biggest win of the season.

“It’s big, dude,” Dodge said. “I’m really proud of this group, which has really come together. We started the season 0-2 and I’d never in my career started 0-2. These girls have just really responded and done a really good job.”

The Lions have outscored teams, 28-0, during the winning and shutout streak that began after season-opening road losses to Martin Methodist and Lindsey Wilson, then ranked No. 8 and No. 2, respectively.

“We defended very well [Tuesday] and we have the best goalkeeper in the conference,” Dodge said of freshman Haley Magana, who entered Tuesday with the fifth-best goals-against average in the nation (0.27) and is the reigning GSAC Defensive Player of the Week.

“We have confidence in [Magana] that she’s going to make the catch or tip the ball over the cage, which she did at the end of [regulation] on a good shot.”

Warriors’ scoring leader and Edison High product Brooke Lillywhite (12 goals this season to give her 36 in her four seasons at Westmont) forced Magana to punch the ball over the crossbar after firing a blast from the top of the box in the 89th minute.

Magana had three saves, while the starting back line of juniors Lauren Aronson, Erica Waddel, Caitlin Smith and Jasmine Freeman helped deny Westmont, which posted a 7-6 shot advantage.

Key reserves Natalie Devries, a senior, and freshman Bryn Chesser, were also critical on defense, as was senior defensive midfielder Megan Stoll. Stoll, along with Bachman, are team co-captains whom Dodge credited with strong leadership all season.

Dodge said Devries played for the first time since sustaining an injury in the second game, and that senior Danyelle Allen and junior Rayven Hernandez also returned after being sidelined approximately three weeks with injuries.

Dodge shuttled players on and off the field to utilize what he said is most depth he has had in 11 seasons at the helm.

It was just the second time all season that Westmont had been blanked.