IRVINE, Calif. – Hope International women's soccer exploded for four first half goals and left the OC Great Park on Tuesday with a 4-1 win over La Sierra.
Alyssa Caton posted her first career goal to get the offense going in the 27th minute. The Royals tacked on three more scores over a nine-minute stretch, getting a goal from Madelynn Valdez and a brace by Emely Bravo.Â
The first goal came on a 40-yard shot that floated over La Sierra goalkeeper Sophia Diaz and into the top of the net. Caton's boot seemed to fool Diaz as she misjudged the flight of the ball.
Angely Puga started the sequence on the second goal ass she passed the ball out wide on the right flank to Kailie Aguilar. Aguilar dumped a cross into the box, where Valdez guided her shot into the upper right corner for the 2-0 lead at the 32:02 mark.
The Royals added their third goal just under five minutes later as Sukanya Sukpham shoveled a short pass to Bravo, who took one touch just in front of the 18-yard box and lofted a shot over Diaz's head to the upper left corner. It was Bravo's second goal of the season and Sukpham's first assist.
HIU poured it on with its fourth goal in the 42nd minute. Following a Golden Eagles foul, the Royals had a free kick inside the 18-yard box. Raejai-Li Librando tapped the ball to Bravo, who curled a left-footer over Diaz's head into the left hand corner.
HIU took the 4-0 lead into halftime. The home side still controlled most of the run of play in the second half, outshooting the Golden Eagles 12-5 and 23-12 for the game.
La Sierra got on the scoreboard in the 82nd minute as Priscila Alzaga fed Brianna Lee for her fourth goal of the season.
Victoria Ruiz played the first 76 minutes in goal for the Royals and made three saves. Rien DeVore-Barajas came on in relief and logged the final 13 minutes, earning one save. Diaz had four saves for the Golden Eagles.
HIU improved to 6-4-0 overall on the season and 5-3-0 in the GSAC. La Sierra fell to 6-7-0 and 3-6-0 in conference play.
The Royals now play four straight GSAC games on the road, beginning on Saturday against Life Pacific. The 9:30 a.m. kickoff takes place on the Pomona-Pitzer Soccer Field.
