Pali Blues Coach Pleased with Team's Progress

So far, so good for the Pali Blues women's soccer team.

Two games this season have produced two one-goal victories, the last a 2-1 triumph over the Victoria Highlanders Friday night at Stadium by the Sea. 

Goalkeeper showed why she plays for the Italian national team by coming off her line to save a breakaway in stoppage time that preserved the win. 

The Blues had 11 shots to Victoria's four and might have won by a wider margin had they managed to convert on several corner kicks in the first 20 minutes. Still, it was a satisfactory result for a club seeking to reclaim the W-League title. 

"I saw a lot of improvement since the first game," first-year Blues Coach said. "We had more possession and were getting the backs involved. There's still a lot we need to clean up, but I thought we had the game under control."

tallied her second goal of the season on a breakaway in the 19th minute, tapping 's angled through ball past goalkeeper Stephanie Parker and the Blues carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.

McCarty had tallied the only goal off Guajardo's assist in the Blues' season-opener against the Los Angeles Strikers six days earlier at Cal State Fullerton. McCarty is a junior at Florida State while Guajardo plays up the road at Pepperdine. 

Playing before their home fans for the first time this season, the Blues pressured the visiting side early in the second half and, after a long solo run, Guajardo launched a shot from 25 yards out that eluded Highlanders goalkeeper Stephanie Parker to double the lead in the 56th minute.

Victoria's Elizabeth Hansen gathered a cross in the box and fired past Picarelli for the first goal in franchise history, pulling the Highlanders back within one in the 61st minute. 

"They're a new team to the W-League and we knew their gameplan would be to pass, pass and send long balls into the middle," Blues captain said. "We knew we'd win the majority of balls in the air, so it was a matter of sticking to our assignments and not letting anyone into the box unmarked."

The Blues host Santa Clarita in the second of a four-game homestand Thursday at 7 p.m. at Stadium by the Sea. Click here for ticket information.

2011 Pali Blues Schedule

Saturday, May 14 -- Pali Blues 1, Los Angeles Strikers 0

Friday, May 20 -- Pali Blues 2, Victoria Highlanders 1

Thursday, May 26 -- vs. Santa Clarita Blue Heat at Palisades High, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, June 1 -- vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at Palisades High, 3 p.m.

Sunday, June 5 -- vs. Seattle Sounders at Palisades High, 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 9 -- at Colorado Force, Loveland Sports park, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 11 -- at Colorado Rush, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, June 22 -- at Victoria Highlanders, Bear Mtn Stadium, 7 p.m.

Friday, June 24 -- at Vancouver Whitecaps, Myrtle Philip Field, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 26 -- at Seattle Sounders, Starfire Sports Complex, 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 30 -- vs. Colorado Force at Palisades High, 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 2 -- vs. Colorado Rush at Palisades High, 4 p.m.

Saturday, July 9 -- at Los Angeles Strikers, Pasadena City College, 7 p.m.

Sunday, July 17 -- at Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Canyon High, 7 p.m.

* All times Pacific