CLAREMONT, Calif. - The defending national champion Cal Lutheran women's soccer team scored off a free kick with 24:05 remaining to break a scoreless tie and take a 1-0 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Wednesday evening at Pritzlaff Field. 

The loss was the first of the season for the Athenas, who slip to 2-1-3 on the season, while Cal Lutheran improves to 3-0-3. 

Ashley Escamilla scored the lone goal of the game for the Regals after Brynn McMahon took a free kick 35 yards out. Emma Fogg jumped with a Cal Lutheran player and deflected the ball inside the six, but unluckily for CMS it fell into the path of Escamilla, who slotted it home. 

Opportunities were limited for both sides, as CMS finished with eight shots and Cal Lutheran finished with seven. Sadie Brown did have to make two saves from tight range in close succession in the first half, and Kira Kasarda finished with four saves for the Regals, the last of which denied Frankie Fragola in the 88th minute.

Tori Holden also nearly put CMS in front in the 57th minute, but her shot to the far post was cleared off the line by Avery West, the reigning SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Chapman for a 7 p.m. contest.