The Point Loma Nazarene University Sea Lions Women’s Soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against Hawai’i Pacific University on September 26, 2026, in San Diego. Maddy Saruwatari scored the only goal for Point Loma in the 66th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Despite a dominant first half where Point Loma outshot Hawai’i Pacific 15-0, neither team scored before halftime. The goal arose from a quick sequence starting with a throw-in by Abby Buys to Priya Torres, who set up Saruwatari to spin past her defender and shoot over the goalkeeper.
Hawai’i Pacific equalized late in the 87th minute on a penalty kick awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review confirmed a foul in the box. Lauren Longworth converted the penalty to tie the match.
In the final moments, Saruwatari fired a shot from just inside the top left corner of the box that could have been the winning goal. However, upon video review, the ball was determined not to have fully crossed the goal line before time expired, and the goal was disallowed, preserving the 1-1 draw.
Point Loma outshot Hawai’i Pacific 29-3 overall and held a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Other notable efforts included Gianna Masinter, who hit the woodwork from distance, and Juliet Thrapp, whose header was disallowed due to a foul. Madison Khan also had a potential penalty chance denied when a foul was ruled just outside the penalty area.
With the tie, Point Loma improved to a 4-2-4 overall record and a 1-0-1 mark in PacWest Conference play. The Sea Lions next host Hawai’i Hilo on October 3, 2026, for Senior Day.
CSB Take
Point Loma Sea Lions exhibited commanding offensive pressure and shot dominance against Hawai’i Pacific but were unable to convert it into a victory. Maddy Saruwatari’s performance, scoring the goal and nearly securing a late winner, highlights her critical role in the team’s attack. Moving forward in PacWest play, the Sea Lions must improve their finishing to capitalize on chances and maintain defensive focus to secure more wins. The upcoming Senior Day home match offers a meaningful opportunity to build momentum before the conference schedule intensifies.
Source: Original report
