IRVINE, Calif. – Emma Valenzuela and Brandi Valdez scored second half goals to spur the Hope International women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over visiting Life Pacific on Saturday at the OC Great Park. 

Valenzuela notched her fourth goal of the season and Valdez added her second as the Royals improved to 6-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the GSAC. The Warriors fell to 4-6-0 overall and remained winless in conference play at 0-5-0.

HIU outshot Life Pacific 11-2 in the first half but the two teams were scoreless at halftime.

The Royals struck quickly to open the second frame, denting the scoreboard in the 47th minute.

Annie Holst started the sequence with a steal near midfield, hitting Karissa Frerichs in stride up the right sideline. Frerichs cut a pass into the middle of the box for a waiting Jacinda Rivera, who found an unmarked Valenzuela on the left side. Valenzuela slid her shot into the lower right corner for the 1-0 lead.

HIU's second goal began off of a counterattack from a Life Pacific corner kick. The Royals pushed the ball upfield and Kalia Lanoza got free on the right side. She feathered a hard pass to the left side of the six-yard box, linking up with a waiting Valdez who one-touched it past Warrior goalkeeper Valerie Lopez in the 77th minute.

Frerichs had two chances to increase the lead to 3-0. In the 83rd minute, her shot from close range was smothered by Lopez. A minute and a half later, she fired a 25-yarder that just floated over the crossbar.

Both teams took six shots in the second half. Victoria Ruiz made two saves, playing the final 45 minutes after Brittany Hazelton was the first half starter.

Lopez stopped five shots for the Warriors.

The Royals play next Thursday, October 9 at Embry-Riddle with a 5:00 p.m. kickoff.