FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 25th, 2023
PORTLAND | The Warner Pacific women's soccer squad won their second game of the season in as many days against Douglas College at the Eastside Timbers Complex.
The Knights took care of business again this evening against Douglas College by a final score of 3-2. Things weren't looking great in the first half. They didn't seem to have the pace needed to win the game as Douglas was the aggressor shooting a lot of shots at freshman goalkeeper, Litzy Gonzalez. Douglas College had about 4-5 shots on goal very early and seemed to have no problem keeping the pace up and keeping the ball on the WPU side of the pitch.
Litzy Gonzalez did a great job withstanding all the shots that Douglas was taking early, but eventually one shot did penetrate the back of the net on a nice shot taken by Alicia Skirzyk of the Royals.
Once halftime hit, head coach Justan Wolvert, took the team across the park to a secluded spot and gave them a long talk. Whatever was said in that talk really helped because the Knights came out of the half with the same energy that they played with the entire first game. The Knights knotted the game up in the 52nd minute on a sweet goal by Reggie Griffith assisted by Jasmine Bates. It was Griffith's first goal of the season and her first of many as a Knight. It didn't take long for the Knights to hit pay-dirt again, scoring again in the 55th minute on an unassisted goal by Shalece Easley who kicked a cross from right to left that struck the head of a Royal's player and snuck by Royal's goalkeeper, Vanessa Chung. It was Easley's second goal of the season and second in as many days.
After that goal, the intensity picked up in a big way which also in turn saw the physicality pick up. A yellow card was assessed to Anna Klaver-Valdez of the Royals on a tackle in the 58th minute. The Royals showed some guts and answered the bell by getting another goal of their own in the 64th minute by Haylee Rogers to tie the game up again.
The final goal of the game was knocked in on an amazing run by the Knights, Kiya Gramps, who had received a pass from midfield from Ellie Johnson who picked up the assist. The Knights were then able to salt away the game with a couple big game saving plays from Litzy Gonzalez to secure the win to go to 2-0 on the very young season.
Head Coach, Justan Wolvert, was proud of the fight and resolve his girls showed. "We had to battle for this one tonight," Wolvert said. "It is tough playing against a quality opponent on the second game of a back-to-back. The 1st half was rough. We looked tired and played too slow. We woke up in the second half and competed. I loved the grit and determination we showed. Nobody on our bench was satisfied with the first half and we showed a ton of character in fighting our way to the win."
Young true freshman, Litzy Gonzalez, started her second game as a college soccer player, gave up two goals and saved ten shots. She is now 2-0 on the season.
History Has Been Made
This win marks the first time in the teams history that they have started a season out 2-0. The program was started in 2002.
Next Up
The Knights will go out on the road to nearby Lewis & Clark College at Griswold Stadium on their campus in Portland.
