FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 23, 2026
Portland, Ore.| The Warner Pacific University women's soccer team returned to Eastside Timbers Sports Complex on Friday for a Cascade Collegiate Conference matchup against unbeaten Rocky Mountain College. The Knights battled throughout the afternoon and created increased pressure in the second half, but two late first-half goals proved to be the difference as Rocky Mountain secured a 2-0 victory.
Warner Pacific generated an early opportunity in the 16th minute when
Kasia Lopez put a shot on frame, forcing Rocky Mountain goalkeeper Matea Vernon into a save.
Katya Tercek followed with another shot on goal in the 22nd minute as the Knights looked for the opening score.
On the other end, Warner Pacific goalkeeper Evelyn Montiel was tested throughout the opening half and repeatedly kept the Knights in the match. Montiel made several key saves as Rocky Mountain increased its offensive pressure, keeping the match scoreless deep into the first half.
Rocky Mountain finally broke through in the 38th minute when Charlize Davis found the back of the net to give the Battlin' Bears a 1-0 advantage. Davis struck again just over four minutes later, scoring in the 43rd minute to send Rocky Mountain into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Warner Pacific responded with a stronger offensive push after the break. After being held to three shots in the opening 45 minutes, the Knights doubled that total with six second-half attempts as they searched for a way back into the match.
Maritza Vazquez-Rivera put an attempt on goal in the 60th minute before
Mira Thornton tested Vernon in the 67th. The Knights continued to create pressure late, earning three corner kicks over the final 20 minutes.
Lopez nearly cut into the deficit in the 83rd minute with another shot on goal before adding an additional attempt in the 87th. Tercek created one final opportunity in the 90th minute, putting a shot on frame, but Vernon made the save to preserve the shutout.
Lopez led the Warner Pacific attack with four shots, including two on goal, while Tercek finished with two shots and put both on target. Thornton and Vazquez-Rivera each added a shot on goal as the Knights finished with nine total shots and six shots on target.
Evelyn Montiel Silva turned in a strong performance in goal despite the result. The Warner Pacific keeper played all 90 minutes and finished with 14 saves, allowing just two goals against a Rocky Mountain attack that generated 32 shots and 16 attempts on target.
The Knights also showed improvement defensively after halftime, holding Rocky Mountain scoreless over the final 45 minutes and limiting the Battlin' Bears to seven second-half shots after they generated 25 in the opening period.
Following the match, Warner Pacific head coach
Greg Pfleger emphasized the importance of continuing to learn and move forward as the Knights enter the closing stretch of the season.
"Today was a tough 2-0 result but we keep moving forward. Plenty to learn from and build on. We'll be back at it on Sunday," Pfleger said.
With the result, Warner Pacific moves to 5-5-2 overall and 4-4-1 in conference play as the Knights continue through the final stretch of their Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule.
Next Up
The Knights will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday out at Eastside Timbers Complex with a game against Carroll College at 10:30am!
