SAN DIEGO, CA - It only took Christine Grover 33
minutes to tie the four-goal Point Loma Nazarene record for most goals scored
in a single game. Had she played the second half of Saturday’s game against
St. Ambrose University, Grover may have shattered the record. However, at the
half, she stepped aside.
“Christine [Grover] has a great spirit of humility,” said coach Mark Halpert.
“She truly understands what it means to play on a team.”
PLNU’s 7-0 shut out of the Fighting Bees was due, in large part, to Grover’s
team play.
She got the ball rolling, literally, in the first five minutes. Caitlan Footit
passed out to Grover, who slammed the ball into the bottom left corner of the
net for the first score of the match. Ten minutes later, Grover was back at
the goal, this time heading in her second of four goals off a perfect corner
Krysta Schmitt tries to stop Christine Glover.
Glover scored four goals to put away the Bees.
photo by Point Loma Nazarene
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kick by Rebecca Lewis.
Grover’s second header-attempt was just as effective as the first, as she sent
the ball into the lower left corner of the net off an assist by Alex Fuller in
the 30th minute. Less than three minutes later, Lewis and Grover paired up
again to score off another corner kick by Lewis.
“She has been absolutely one of the best headers you will ever see,” said
Halpert.
Grover had a golden opportunity to set the single game mark but her shot in
the 36th minute went off the right goalpost and bounced back into play. Fuller
arrived in front of the goal just as the ball ricochetted to her and slammed a
shot into the net. Amanda Rand followed in suit one minute later for the sixth
goal of the game, to send the Sea Lions into the half with a 6-0 lead.
SAU tightened defensively in the second half, holding PLNU to only one goal in
the final 45 minutes. Jennifer Tan scored a breakaway goal, aided by Lewis, in
the 78th minute for the final goal of the game.
For Halpert, the game in which his team outstot the Fighting Bees 28-3, is a
sign of good things to come.
“This was fabulous,” he said. “To put the game in our hands so early was
great. Everyone got a chance to play and we were able to experiment with our
defense a little bit. We have a good team. If the girls keep their focus and
keep improving like they have been, I think we could beat any team in the
nation.”
