LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne women's soccer team opened the 2024 season with a pair of non-conference contests at Ortmayer Stadium.

The Leopards finished the weekend 0-0-1, tying Oberlin College 1-1 and falling to Whitman College 0-1.

Megan Llopis scored the first goal of the season in the waning minutes of the opening half against Oberlin. The Leopards cleared a Yeowomen attack and caught Oberlin off guard. Llopis drove just outside the Oberlin box and crossed a pass to Alyssa Marquez. Marquez gathered, delivered the ball back to Llopis at the top of the box who drilled a shot to the right side of the goal.

Entering the final minute, the Leopards seemed destined for a win to start the season. But a penalty in the box with seconds remaining gave Oberlin a chance to equalize. Heather Benway scored the penalty kick to bring the final to 1-1.

The following night against Whitman, the Leopards peppered the Blues with shots. La Verne took eight shots in the first half alone and totaled 11 for the game with five on target. The best chance came in the 43rd minute when Miranda McGarry stole possession following a Whitman throw-in in Blues' territory. She passed to Kristen Smick who beat a pair of defenders and drilled a shot from the top of the box that banged off the crossbar.

The Blues scored the difference-maker four minutes into the second half when Leah Barnes took a shot from deep that grazed off the fingertips of Abigail Macedo.

Macedo finished the game with two saves, Smick took three shots, and Natalia Cruz added two shots on goal. The Leopards forced Blues' keeper Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky to make five saves.

Next Game

The Leopards play next on Wednesday, September 4 when they host NAIA opponent Life Pacific at 7 p.m.