<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1VOsUi_0vlcGIYL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1VOsUi_0vlcGIYL00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Leopards senior forward Antonia Escobar receives a pass while under defensive pressure from Bluejay sophomore midfielder Ellie Muscarello on Sept. 19 at Ortmayer Stadium. The Leopards came out victorious with a 1-0 clean sheet win over the Bluejays with Leopards senior midfielder Ana Preciado scoring the lone goal. / photo by Stephen Gilson Jr.</figcaption></figure>Leila El SabbaghStaff WriterThe Leopards silenced the Elmhurst Bluejays in a 1-0 shutout Thursday at Ortmayer Stadium. The Leopards fought a tough battle against the Bluejays and were able to clinch a win before heading into the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season.Right from kickoff, the Bluejays were extremely vocal from the sidelines and on the field. However, the Leopards were proven to be silent killers when senior midfielder Ana Preciado buried the one and only goal in the 12th minute of the first half.“We wanted to come out with a win, so everyone kept a high mentality,” Preciado said, “We’re all excited and glad that we brought that win tonight.”Freshman defender Jordan Moody was credited with the assist for the goal off a corner kick.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1iLs5Y_0vlcGIYL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1iLs5Y_0vlcGIYL00" width="1280" height="1578" ><figcaption>La Verne sophomore defender Maren Handel fights for control of the ball against Elmhurst sophomore midfielder Natalie Workman on Sept. 19 at Ortmayer Stadium. The Leopards won a tight defensive game against the Bluejays, 1-0. / photo by Stephen Gilson Jr.</figcaption></figure>Throughout the entire game the Leopards took every opportunity to drive through to the net with 14 shots and seven shots on goal. Not only was the offense sound, but defense was as well with communication being at the forefront of their teamwork. Senior goalkeeper Abigail Macedo was able to deny every shot that went her way, resulting in the shutout victory. “It feels really good to get that shutout and the three point advantage going into conference,” Macedo said. “I think we’re really excited and really pumped. We’re in a really good place and have had really good games leading up to conference play.”Unsuccessful corner kicks for both La Verne and Elmhurst were taken for the rest of the half as the Leopards kept the intensity up.Heading into the second half, the Leopards did not fall on their heels. They picked up where they left off and put pressure on the Elmhurst defense, continuously driving to the opposition box. The Bluejays continued to bring the energy as well, seeming louder than they were in the first half.Senior defender Miranda McGarry and senior forward Serenity De La Torre, were two prominent players for the Leopards on the field. McGarry was able to rack up four shots and one shot on goal, while De La Torre was hot in the shooting zone with three shots on goal.“We’re just looking to do the little things really well. We’ve had a lot of opportunities at goal, and I think that’s due to our style of play,” head coach Lauryn Pehanich said.Before the match started, the Leopards were accompanied by the Los Angeles Girls Soccer Club for the starting lineup and National Anthem.“It’s nice for them to see the college girls play and relate to their positions,” manager for the soccer club Kristine Luk said. “While they’re watching, they learn from the older girls. It lifts their spirits.”The Leopards could not carry the momentum into their two conference games during the week, losing to Cal Lutheran on the road, 1-0, on Saturday, and losing to Whittier, 2-1, at Ortmayer Stadium on Wednesday. The Leopards are now 3-4-2 on the season and 0-2 in SCIAC play. They return to the pitch at 11 a.m. Saturday at Caltech.Leila El Sabbagh can be reached at leile.elsabbagh@laverne.edu.Leila El Sabbagh is a staff writer for the Campus Times. She is a sophomore journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism who aspires to be a sports broadcaster.Stephen Gilson Jr. Stephen Gilson Jr. is a senior journalism major with a concentration in broadcast journalism. He is the arts editor for the Campus Times, a staff writer for La Verne Magazine and a staff photographer for both publications. He has previously been a staff writer, assistant editor and LV Life Editor for the Campus Times.</div></body>

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Women’s soccer silences Elmhurst, 1-0

The Leopards silenced the Elmhurst Bluejays in a 1-0 shutout Thursday at Ortmayer Stadium. The Leopards fought a tough battle against the Bluejays and were able to clinch a win before heading into the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season. Right from kickoff, the Bluejays were extremely vocal from...