by Cyanna Rosa

The University of La Verne men's soccer team kicked off their weekend on home turf against the Linfield University Wildcats at Ortmayer Stadium this evening. Newcomer and SCIAC Athlete of the Week, Adan Villarreal, wasted no time making an impact by finding the back of the net early in the first half. Villarreal, who has been on fire recently, has now contributed four out of the six goals scored by the Leopards this season, including a remarkable hat trick against St. John's University (MN).

Assisted by Alexander Bastidas, Villarreal notched the first goal of the game by placing the ball skillfully in the bottom right corner of the net. Just ten minutes later, Villarreal displayed his finesse by hitting the bottom left corner with a stunning solo goal to earn himself a brace (two goals scored by one player in a match), further extending the Leopards' lead to 2-0 as the first half concluded.

Senior Leopard, Damian Lira-Martinez, added another solo goal to the scoreboard, solidifying the Leopard's dominance on the field. Goalkeeper Hector Duenas-Peña showcased his prowess midway through the second half with a remarkable save, stopping a powerful 25-yard kick. The Leopards' solid defense allowed Duenas-Pena to cruise through the first half, leaving Linfield with no choice but to attempt riskier shots, all thwarted by Duenas-Pena.

In an attempt to turn the tide, Linfield made several substitutions with fifteen minutes remaining and introducing fresh faces onto the field. However, their efforts failed to pose any significant threat to the Leopards' lead and the game ended with a final 3-0 score in favor of the Leopards.

Action continues at Ortmayer Stadium this Sunday, September 10th, at 11 a.m., when the Leopards take on George Fox University in another non-conference showdown.

(photo by Emily Casillas)