SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Southwestern University’s women’s soccer team split non-conference action this weekend in California, falling 5-0 to #7 regionally-ranked UC-Santa Cruz and then defeating the University of LaVerne 2-1. The Pirates now stand 7-2 on the season while UCSC improves to 6-2 and UL falls to 2-3.

Coach Baclawski knew Friday’s match-up against the Banana Slugs would be a great challenge for her Pirates as UCSC was previously nationally-ranked.

Southwestern hung with the Slugs in the first half, taking three shots to UCSC’s six, but were unable to find the back of the net. The Banana Slugs made the most of their few shots in the first half, scoring on 50 percent of the shots they took to go into half time 3-0.

The second half became more lopsided as Santa Cruz took 13 shots to SU’s 1 and scored two more times to take the game 5-0.

First-year Sarah Nonaka had one save in the first half while Senior Cheryl Duncan came in for the second 45 and recorded five saves.

The Pirates rebounded from the loss to take on the University of LaVerne on Saturday. They returned to their recipe for success by scoring six minutes into the contest off a corner kick by senior Laura Kromann (pictured) that found senior A.J. Andreola to give SU the 1-0 lead.

LaVerne responded with a goal of their own eight minutes later to bring the game back even at 1-1, but it didn’t last long as sophomore Maria Pollifrone scored unassisted just thirty seconds later to put Southwestern back on top 2-1. The Pirate defense would handle it the rest of the way to close out the contest.

Duncan recorded three saves and one goal against in the first 45 while Nonaka held the Leopards at bay with five saves. Southwestern took 13 shots and had five corners while LaVerne had 16 shots and two corners.

The Pirates will use the momentum and new level of competition to their advantage as they return to SCAC conference action on October 9th to face Millsaps in Jackson, MS.