April 8, 2008

Stockton, Calif. - Opening up their spring schedule with a home game against Cal State Stanislaus, the Pacific soccer team took home a 5-0 victory over the Warriors on Sunday, April 6. The Tigers play seven times throughout the spring.

Playing without their nine graduating seniors from the fall season, the new look Tigers found a new rhythm of their own in their first game of the spring, posting a pair of early goals before capping the contest with three second half strikes.

The Tigers got off to a fast start behind the attack of freshman Sammi Teramae (Kapolei, Hawaii). Midway through the first half, Teramae took advantage of her speed and ball handling abilities to split four Warrior defenders, freeing herself in the middle of the box for her first goal. With just the keeper to beat, Teramae slotted her home her first goal of the game, placing her shot into the back left corner of the net.

With a one goal lead, the Tigers continued their control of the ball through the midfield with junior Laura King (Livermore, Calif.) leading through the center of the field. Typically looking to pass first, King took the scoring into her own hands just before the halftime whistle, posting Pacific's second goal of the game. After dribbling through her lone defender's legs, King fired a shot from 30 yards out, skimming the crossbar before banking into the back of the net.

Dominating both sides of the ball, the Tigers came out firing in the second half, once again led by Teramae. Putting the game out of reach, Teramae produced her second and third goals of the game just out of the break. After scoring her second, Teramae was in the right place at the right time to redirect a header from sophomore Katie Ward (Sacramento, Calif.) to pick up her first hat-trick of the spring.

Despite scoring three goals, Teramae was not done yet as she setup sophomore Lydia Jackson (El Cajon, Calif.) for the Tigers' fifth and final score of the afternoon.

Defensively, the Tigers stood strong against the Warriors throughout the day as they gave up only a handful of shots with no real threats on goal.

Pacific head coach Keith Coleman said after the game, "we played really well out there today even though we were trying out a completely new lineup and look."

"All of the girls played well and I was happy to see them click on the field against outside competition with all of the changes."

The Tigers continue their spring schedule on Sunday, April 13 as they take on Fresno State and Sonoma State beginning at 11:00 am.