Sorentino leads Loyola Marymount to sixth victory

Senior Lily Sorentino's  first goal of the year 13 minutes into the game was enough to lead Loyola Marymount University to its second straight win, 1-0 over Penn on Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field. Senior Julie Gallaudet  tied the LMU career record with her 18th assist for the Lions (6-2-0), who have now notched two consecutive shutouts and four in their last five games. 

The Lions had a speed advantage over the Quakers (3-3-0) and looked to exploit that all day, continuously playing wide balls down the flanks for Sorentino, Gallaudet, and freshman Tawni Martino to run on to. It was that trio who combined for the game's only goal as Gallaudet released Martino with a looping pass over the Penn backline. Martino beat her defender to the ball and carried it to the byline, where she cut her pass back to Sorentino at the back post. Sorentino took a touch to settle, then fired home from six yards out for the deciding strike. It was her first goal of the season and fifth of her career. 

Gallaudet's assist was her team-leading fourth of the year and moved her into a tie with Jessica Lyon (1995-98) atop the Lions' all-time chart. It was also her 40th career point, tying Cindy Carullo (1993-96) for seventh in the school's history.

LMU continued to pound the ball to the outside and Martino and Gallaudet were the beneficiaries although they would continually be denied by Penn goalkeeper Caroline Williams, who made five saves on the day. LMU nearly doubled its lead four minutes after the break when sophomore Jordan Nelson's long-range effort off a corner kick found its way through a crowded penalty box, only to come back off the post. 

Penn had its best chance in the 75th minute when Colleen Barry lost her defender on the right side and sent a swerving shot towards the top-right corner of the LMU goal. Freshman goalkeeper Brittany Jagger was quick to react, however, stretching to get her fingertips on it and turn it over for a corner. 

That seemed to spur the Quakers, who pushed forward in the last 15 minutes to put the Lions on their heels. Eight minutes from time, Kathryn Barth had a header charged down in the box and Laura Oliver's header in the final seconds went wide. As Penn went on the attack, it was susceptible to the Lions' counter and LMU nearly put the game away when Martino was put through but Williams made the one-on-one save. 

Jagger stopped two shots for her fourth consecutive shutout win. She has allowed just one goal over her last 515 minutes. LMU had a 12-9 advantage on shots and 7-3 on corner kicks. 

The Lions close out their four-game homestand next Friday, hosting Arizonaat 4 p.m. on Friday. They then travel to Northern Arizona on Sunday.