Pulling up to the field at CSU San Bernardino, the air stale and hot, the lady Tritons set out to conquer their first game of the season. The first half started smoothly as the Tritons connected together through the midfield and caught on to the high defensive line the Coyotes held. Midfielders Elayna O. and Katie W. dominated the center of the field, keeping any Coyote attack at bay and converting won balls into opportunities for the forward line. The first lethal attack was supplied by forward Jade J., whose run into space left the Coyotes on their heels as the ball whipped the side netting. As the Tritons kept up their relentless attack, the defensive line was hard at work as fullback Jill. G. and Anais O. suspended any attempts down the line. Off the bench, star midfielder Nadia. H, supplied many vital runs forward, causing chaos for the Coyote defense, resulting in a goal and a PK, finished by senior Rachel N. Half-time was welcomed under the scorching sun, but the reprieve was small as the Tritons took on the second-half with a 3-0 lead. Many of the shortcomings of the first half appeared to be fixed, as the Tritons came out at a fast pace letting the ball do most of the work. The midfielders continued to win many 50-50 battles, providing forwards Allison Long and Ellie P. with a multitude of opportunities. The ball found the back of the net thrice more: McKenzie K. received a through-ball from her defensive counterpart, Rachel, and was clinical in her finish; Nadia H. drove in a ball off of a dangerous corner kick for her second goal. The continual hard work of lady Tritons from the top to the bottom of their lineup, left their opponents struggling to keep up. The forwards’ unpredictability was spell-bounding, highlighting the creativity of the midfielders, which was supported by the dependability of the defenders. Notably, rookie goalkeeper Allison Lee provided a spectacular performance, deflecting three potential opportunities that San Bernardino had on frame. It’s clear that the Lady Tritons have something to prove this new year as they compete for another position in the National tournament. Final score: Tritons-6 with the shutout.