LOS ANGELES - The Saint Mary's Women's Soccer Team notched a 1-0 victory on the road at Loyola Marymount University Wednesday night to improve to 3-1-1 in WCC play and 9-2-3 overall on the season. 

Offense Early
The Lions started quickly with four shots and two corner kicks in the first five minutes of the game, as they certainly didn't look like a winless team during the contest.

In the 28^th minute, a long pass from the midfield stripe by Emma Barthel set up Nayeli Diaz on the left side of the goal, and Diaz fired a shot that had enough mustard on it to get in the left corner of the net, even though the keeper got a hand on the ball for Diaz' first goal of the season. 

Defense late
In the second half the Lions cranked up their pressure and had some good chances, but the Gaels all-conference keeper Taylor Poland would come up with big stops when the Gaels needed them. In the 65^th minute LMU had an unmarked player get loose in the penalty area, but Poland preserved the shut out by coming out of her net and smothering a shot from the wide open Lion before she could get it off her foot.
 
In 70^th minute Poland made another great save, this time leaping up and snagging a high shot with two hands in front of the net. In the 79^th minute she hauled in a cross after a nice run up field by the Lions to stop the threat before it began and in the 82^nd she hauled in a shot at point-blank range to her left.
 
Poland saved her best for last when she would leap up and punch a shot away with two hands to save the game with just over a minute to go for her fifth save of the night and her sixth clean sheet of the season.

UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif. on Saturday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m. The Waves lost their first game in WCC play and second loss overall on Wednesday night against the defending champion Santa Clara.