Continuing their string of tough opponents to begin the 2011 season, the Lady Oaks took on undefeated Vanguard University in front of a packed house at Wunderlich Field.  From the beginning it seemed liked the Lions day, after a corner by junior Jordan Cleary was headed in for the score by fellow junior Lauren Skachenko in the 4^th minute to give Vanguard the early 1-0 advantage.  Less than 20 minutes later, the two were at it again with a second corner from Cleary that found the back of the net on the header by Skachenko for the 2-0 lead.  For Skachenko, the two goals made it three on the season while Cleary earned her first two assists of the year.

The second half featured more of the same for the Lions who put the game out of reach early in the final stanza.  Just under seven minutes into the frame, Vanguard junior mid-fielder Amanda Couch blasted one from deep with the assist given to fellow junior Rachel Rucireta for the Lions third goal on the afternoon.  For Couch, the score marked her second of the campaign while Rucireta picked up her second assist as well, but would be heard from as the game progressed. 

In the 57^th minute, the mid-fielder from Yorba Linda, CA scored her first goal of the season on a cross from junior Lindsey Holman-Kelley who took home her first assist of the year.  Vanguard would add a fifth and final score in the 90^th minute after a throw in by freshman Kamyn Plechot found the leg of freshman Kayla Sanchez who slammed it in for her first score of the season. 

With the 5-0 loss, Menlo is still in search for that first win, now sitting at 0-5.  "The effort was there today from our girls, you have to give a lot of credit to Vanguard" claimed Lady Oaks Head Coach Scott Myers.  "These tough out of conference opponents are only going to make us better as we head into conference." 

Myers' squad will have little time to digest the rough defeat with the inaugural Menlo Invitation set for this Friday at Wunderlich Field.  The Lady Oaks will kickoff the tournament with a matchup against Bellevue University beginning at 11am.