Phoenix, Ariz. – Soka University of America improved its season record to 4-5-0 with a 3-0 collegiate women’s soccer shutout victory over Arizona Christian University (2-6-0), Friday, Sept. 7, at Rose Mofford Sports Complex.  Two of Soka’s wins this season have come at the expense of the Firestorm; Soka also beat ACU, 3-1, on Sept. 9 at Soka.

Arizona Christian hosts Soka University of America (3-5-0) for a 5 p.m. match at Rose Mofford Sports Complex, prior to the ACU men’s soccer match against Soka University at 7 p.m.

Soka outshot ACU, 26-6, for the game and 14-0 for the first half, and also led 16-2 in shots on goal and 6-2 in corner kicks.  Midfielder Jennifer Hayashi gave Soka a 1-0 lead at 42:37 just before halftime, with an assist from midfielder Aubree West.  West also played a part in Soka’s second goal just five minutes later, 2:37 into the second half.  West’s hard shot caromed off ACU’s freshman goalkeeper Kimberly Arias-Castro (Tolleson, Ariz./La Joya Community High School) to an opportunistic Sachiko Orui who tapped in the rebound.

Soka’s third goal came off a well-placed corner kick by Ashley Okazaki, whose crossing pass found Claudia Ohumada open for the goal at 77:43.

Arias-Castro saved 13 Soka shots on goal, six in the first period and seven in the second, while Katherine Olsen saved two ACU shots on goal in the second half, one each by sophomore midfielder Krista Ryker (Prescott, Ariz./Prescott H.S.) and freshman forward Chelsea Ruland (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy), the team’s leading scorer with four goals and three assists this season.  Arias-Castro has saved 10 or more opponent shots on goal in five of ACU’s eight matches and has made 88 saves this season.