Aliso Viejo, Calif. – Arizona Christian University (0-1-0, 0-1-0 A.I.I.) scored first early in the match but allowed a tying goal late in the first half and two more goal in the second half in its 3-1 season-opening loss at Soka University of America (2-0-0; 1-0-0 A.I.I.), Friday, Sept. 9, in Aliso Viejo, Calif.

Arizona Christian returns to the field, Saturday, Sept. 10, with a 3 p.m. match against Mills College from Oakland, California, and comes back to southern California next week to compete against Bethesda Christian University, Friday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. and Hope International University at Fullerton Junior College, Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 p.m.  Hope International will be a conference opponents for the Firestorm beginning next season when ACU becomes the eighth member of the GSAC.

Freshman midfielder Mindy Kleppe (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista H.S.) scored ACU’s first goal of the season just 2:51 into the season opener.  Freshman forward Chelsea Ruland (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy), a two-time All-State player, earned her first collegiate assist on the play.  ACU managed five shots in the match – all directly on goal.  Kleppe attempted three of the shots.  Soka goalkeeper Katie Olsen saved four ACU shots on goal. 

Soka outshot ACU, 36-5, with 22 shots on goal.  Freshman goalkeeper Kim Arias-Castro (Avondale, Ariz./La Joya Community High School) saved 19 shot and kept the score closer with several crucial stops.  Forward Skyler McClanahan assisted on Soka’s tying goal at the 42:33 mark of the first half and scored Soka’s go-ahead goal at 68:23 of the second half on a long, solo run through the ACU defense.  McClanahan accounted for 11 of Soka’s shots and seven of its shots on goal.  Forward Ariana Vasquez tied the match at 1-1 and attempted seven shots, with five on goal.  Soka’s third goal of the evening came from forward Aubree West at 87:00.

ACU head coach Carl Cecil commented, “ACU had periods of good possession and attacking in the final third tonight.  We really showed our versatility with several players playing two different positions during the match, and one, Christa Ryker (Prescott, Ariz./Prescott H.S.) was used in four different positions.  Overall, it was a solid effort.”

Cecil especially lauded the efforts of Kim Arias-Castro in the ACU nets, noting that she had never played the goalkeeper position prior to coming to ACU, and praised sophomore center defender Ericka Haddock (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge H.S.) for “controlling the back and keeping the defensive shape” in front of Arias-Castro.

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