By: Evan O'Kelly, Associate Commissioner for Communications

SAN DIEGO – A memorable 2024 season for the Simon Fraser women’s soccer team came to an end on Thursday afternoon at the PLNU soccer field, as host No. 20 Point Loma held on for a 2-1 win in the opening round of the NCAA West Region Championships.
 
The Red Leafs (14-4-3) battled back from a 2-0, first-half deficit, but could not find an equalizer in their second-ever NCAA playoff appearance. Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year Dariella Lopez had her team’s lone goal on Thursday, scoring her team-leading seventh of the season in the 32nd minute. GNAC first-team goalkeeper Sarah Loewen tallied six saves in the match, helping keep her team in it through the final whistle.
 
First-team all-PacWest Conference forward Alana Diaz scored her team-best eighth goal of the season to give her team the lead just eight minutes into the match, before Nikki Ross scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 28th minute. The reigning Division II national champion Sea Lions advance to a second-round match on Saturday, where they’ll face No. 22 Hawaii Hilo (14-2-3) at 1 p.m. The No. 3 seed Vulcans defeated No. 6 seed Concordia University Irvine 3-1 in the first regional match of the day.
 
The Sea Lions took an early lead as Diaz found the back of the net in just the eighth minute. After Bethany Arabe got free on the left side of the pitch near the goal box, her cross towards the center met the foot of the PLNU striker who punched the game’s first goal strongly into the back of the net.
 
Doubling their tally in similar fashion in the 28th minute, the Sea Lions once again took advantage of space on the left side of the field. Another cross found the foot of newly substituted Ross, who followed up a blocked shot by keeping her next strike just under the crossbar to make the score 2-0.
 
The Red Leafs persisted despite the deficit, turning up their offensive push as time wound down in the opening half.
 
Kaiden Sherwood had SFU’s first big chance of the opening half, blasting a strong shot from the top of the box on frame with 14 minutes to go before halftime. PLNU goalkeeper Julia Pinnell leapt upwards to push the strike over the crossbar, but the Red Leafs capitalized on the ensuing corner kick. On a service by Kate Cartier, Isabella Muzzolini had a shot blocked before Lopez tucked home her seventh goal of the season to make the score 2-1.
 
 
Loewen had an important hold four minutes into the second half, smothering a low shot with three Sea Lions anxiously waiting in her vicinity for a carom.
 
The Red Leafs dodged a bullet with 25 minutes left, when a giveaway in the defensive third resulted in an open look for the goal scorer Diaz. This time her rocketing shot rattled off the crossbar, as she narrowly missed spotting her side a 3-1 advantage.
 
The PLNU back line did well to prevent the Red Leafs from a serious equalizing threat late in the match, and kept their hopes alive for a repeat national title. Pinnell, the PacWest Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year, finished the match with three saves. Naomi Ellis, Emma Thrapp, Zoe Crockett and Gianna Masinter each played the full 90 minutes for the victors.
 
On the back line for SFU, GNAC Defensive Player of the Year Emily Smith, Kate Smith and Elyse Beaudry each played the full 90 minutes. Cartier also never left the pitch in her final career match for the Red Leafs. Muzzolini’s assist was her team-leading sixth of the season, as she wrapped up her collegiate career as well.
 
GAME NOTES: Thursday was SFU’s second NCAA match in program history, after making the tournament in 2023 for the first time ever.