After strong performances from junior forward Taylor Venegas and senior defender Amanda Otto, Biola women’s soccer pulled out a 3-1 win over Soka University on Saturday and a 1-1 draw with Menlo University on Tuesday. As a result they stand in the middle of perfection at 6-0-2 while in the midst of GSAC conference play.
The Defense is part of the offense too
Arguably having the best overall season defensively on the women’s soccer team is Amanda Otto. To go along with her stingy defense, Otto has been the catalyst for the fast-paced Eagles offense as she leads the Golden State Athletic Conference in assists with four and has found the net twice herself.
In Tuesday’s game against Menlo University, Otto injured her left leg with 11 minutes to go in the second half. The status on Otto’s injury is unknown at the time, stay tuned in for the next article on women’s soccer for an update on her injury. Otto is not the only defender to contribute offensively this week, as junior defender Kayla White notched a goal in the 14th minute against Soka this past Saturday. The defense looks to keep up its contributions on offense and yet hold their ground against offensive juggernauts William Jessup University and San Diego Christian University as GSAC conference play begins.
A week of firsts
When White scored the team’s first goal against Soka last Saturday by an intercepted ball, it was a significant one. Her goal in the 14th minute stands as the first goal of her career. With the way the defense has been contributing on offense, there may be more opportunities for White to find the net as the season progresses.
Saturday also marked a time of firsts for senior goalkeeper Marina Rodriguez as she saw her first playing time of the year after going 5-0 with a 0.63 goals allowed per game average in her five starts last year. Rodriguez replaced senior goalkeeper Amanda Johnson at the start of the second half against Soka. Then on Tuesday, Rodriguez got her first start of the year, allowing one goal that bounced off the body of freshman forward Caitlyn Sorenson.
Venegas and Marmelstein go for all or nothing
Taylor Venegas thus far this season has made sure she is doing all she can to put goals on the board for the Eagles, contributing four, and she has shot the ball 16 times this season at a rate of 2.23 shots taken per game. Venegas also scored the game-tying goal off a header that determined the outcome of Tuesday’s tie game against Menlo.
Not far behind Venegas is junior midfielder/defender McKenna Marmelstein who has shot the ball 15 times this season with an average of shots per game just as good as Venegas of 2.14. Venegas’ and McKenna’s ability to get the ball in play for chances at scoring will be much needed when Biola plays teams such as Hope University, who features freshman goalie Kayla Jenson who has not allowed a goal thus far this year.
On Saturday Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., Biola will play at home against inner conference rival, San Diego Christian University. Biola will try to protect its perfect 6-0-2 record.
