Lions score big win

A solid strike off the right foot of Rice from about 45 yards straight out, caromed out of the grasp of Cal Baptist ’keeper Emily Evanson, who appeared to be making an easy save, as she attempted to gather the ball into her chest. But the ball popped free and freshman Christy Horning was there to take advantage, poking the ball into the net from near-point-blank range for the game-winner.

“It was a goalkeeper mistake, but those have happened to us,” Dodge said. “First, the shot had to get to the keeper, and we also had to follow up. [Horning] did have the follow up, so that was big.”

The victory was also big for the Lions, who, without senior co-captain Cassandra Rodeiro (broken toe) and with freshman forward Danielle Dintino (who leads the team with seven goals and two assists) still not at 100% due to a sprained ankle, started slowly in the rugged GSAC.

Vanguard dropped conference games to No. 6-ranked Point Loma Nazarene, 1-0, and No. 10-ranked Concordia, 4-0, while absorbing road ties against Biola and Fresno Pacific.

The 2-2-2 conference start dropped the Lions from the national top-25 poll released today, Dodge said.

“This is the first time we’ve been out of the poll this year, and [Cal Baptist] took our place,” Dodge said. “Now, it looks like we’ve knocked them out and we’ll go back into the poll next week.”

Vanguard, which starts seven freshmen, also received strong play from freshmen Erika Barlow, Ivana Mendez, and Stephanie Steffes, as well as sophomores Jenna Lindsey and Hanna Lovbrand, and junior Katheryn Romero.

“We put up another shutout, which is awesome,” Dodge said.

“It was definitely an entire defensive win there,” Foss said. “Everybody stepped up to play. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.