Lakers Clipped By St. Francis In CCAC Battle

JOLIET, Ill. – A late first-half goal was the difference as St. Francis outlasted Roosevelt 1-0 on Saturday evening in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference match in Joliet.

The Lakers (4-8-9, 2-6-0 CCAC) were credited with 13 shot attempts in the match, but just three made it on frame. Roosevelt was battling uphill in the first half as it was outshot 14-7 and Gaby Aguinaga-Hernandez made seven stops in the opening 45 minutes. St. Francis scored in the final minute of the first half with the eventual game-winner then Roosevelt held the Fighting Saints to just one shot on goal in the second half.

Nyah Bejarano forced the first save of the match with her effort just two minutes into the match and it took 20 minutes for Mayte Gongora to rifle the Lakers' second shot on target. The Lakers were buzzing around the Fighting Saints' half on several other occasions, but their efforts were blocked before ever reaching the St. Francis goalie.

Meanwhile, Aguinaga-Hernandez looked sharp in her first start since the season opener, finishing with eight saves on the match. The Chicago native made her final save just 90 seconds into the second half then the Lakers clamped down on the space around the penalty area, blocking several attempts and forcing plenty of others wide of the target.

The Lakers return home Tuesday night to Morris Field to face Viterbo at 7 p.m. in a critical CCAC clash for Roosevelt's postseason hopes.