Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Tara Simon scored her first goal of the season in the 85th minute to lift the No. 11 Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Marymount College on Wednesday afternoon at Mangrum Soccer Field.

After peppering the Mariners' goal for a large majority of the game, the Cougars finally broke through when Paulina Good's long free kick into the box was mishandled by Marymount keeper Morgan Faulkner. The ball bounced around in a plethora of legs before Simon pounced on it and pounded it into the top of the net.

“It was pretty much a scramble in there, everyone was trying to score,” said Simon. “I just ended up getting my foot on it and it went in the goal.”

The Cougars (7-2-2) were on the attack from the get go, as Kayleigh Dodson rose to head down Natalya Erbel's cross in the third minute. Dani Porter followed with a volley from the top of the six, but it missed wide right.

Porter freed herself along the right side before spinning to play a cross to Jacqueline Lara. Lara finished it one-time, but was called offside.

“Credit to Marymount, I thought they played very well, especially their back four,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. “I thought there were a lot of things we could do better.”

Scoreless at the half, CSUSM pressed on. Kelsey Gunion floated a high-curling ball behind the back line in the path of Shelby Bush, but the senior forward's first touch was heavy and the danger was snuffed out.

In the 75th, substitute Heather Flores got into the act, cracking a left-footed shot from the top of the box. The ball searched for the right post and Faulkner did well to push it wide.

Good took advantage of a seemingly innocent foul at midfield by floating a long ball into the six. Faulkner couldn't handle it and Simon made her pay five minutes from full-time.

CSUSM was not out of danger yet, as Marymount pushed forward in search of the equalizer. Emma Von Palffy found space at 20 yards before attempting a curling shot towards the right top-corner. Cougar goalie Amanda Sears leapt high and to her left to push it over the bar.

CSUSM will face Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) opponent Ashford (Iowa) on Friday at 4:00 p.m. at Mangrum.

“Friday's going to be a much tougher day. We need to come out with more passion and more energy,” said Pulvers.