The Master's women's soccer team knew they had their hands full with the No. 9-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles coming to Reese Field for a match.
Both teams were 4-0 in the GSAC coming into the match.
But it was the Eagles flying away from Santa Clarita with the W.
Behind two first half goals, Embry-Riddle defeated the Lady Mustangs 2-0 on Saturday to give TMU its first conference loss of the season.
"The disappointment is in losing because we are trying to win conference," said TMU Head Coach Esteban Chavez. "We didn't start off slow, but they caught us off guard with those two early goals."
The loss breaks a 7-game win streak for Master's.
Samantha Wright scored in the 12th minute for ERAU, followed less than six minutes later by Tess Updegraff bending the net to put the Eagles up 2-0. Despite the score, The Lady Mustangs (7-3, 4-1) were able to keep pace with Embry-Riddle, putting up eight shots in the first half to ERAU's nine.
The intensity was turned up by The Master's in the second half as the majority of the possessions were theirs and the majority of the action was happening in front of the Eagles goal. TMU outshot ERAU 9-5 in the final 45 minutes, but could not get a shot to hit the net.
"In the second half we completely took over the game," Coach Chavez said. "It was a halftime adjustment that was one simple word – anticipation. Anticipate what was going to happen. And that was the difference. But unfortunately we couldn't punch one in."
Breanna Fajardo had the most chances with five shots followed by four for
Maddy Traylor and three for
Kegan Brunnemann.
Autumn Jensen finished with eight saves in the match.
The Master's will be on the road for their next four games starting with a match on Thursday with a match against Park-Gilbert to be played in Mesa, Ariz. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
