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San Diego (11/3) -- The No. 14-ranked Sea Lions got redemption when it mattered, as a header from Brooke Winklepleck was enough to defeat The Master’s College 1-0 Tuesday afternoon in a GSAC Tournament first round game. It was the first time the teams met since the Mustangs defeated PLNU 2-1 in the conference opener earlier this season, and the team’s first playoff victory since 2007.

The Sea Lions improved to 12-4-1 while the Mustangs ended their season 12-5-2. Number four seeded PLNU will now head up to face Azusa Pacific on Friday at 2:00 pm in a semifinal match.

The game earlier in the year in Santa Clarita was a lot like this one. Back then the Sea Lions went up 1-0 just five minutes into the tilt, but TMC managed two late goals for a come-from-behind triumph. PLNU’s defense didn’t let that happen Tuesday.

“What we talked about in the locker room before the game and in practices all week is the concept of defense,” said head coach Tim Hall. “There wasn’t any special tactical change. It was just let’s play what’s gotten us here.”

The lone goal didn’t come early, as PLNU burned four shots and 30 minutes before All-GSAC player Lauren Hernandez lined up for a her corner kick. That’s when she found Winklepleck, who described the goal simply. 

“Well, Lauren Hernandez crossed it, I headed it, and it went in the goal,” she said.

It was Hernandez’s fifth assist this season and Winklepleck’s fourth goal.

“She’s the best corner kicker ever,” teammate Lauren Leslie said about Hernandez after the game.

The Sea Lions got a few more looks at the goal in the remaining hour, including a ringer off the post and a breakaway for senior Jennifer Tan, who booted it over the crossbar.

PLNU’s offense mostly kept the ball in the Mustangs’ half early in the second half, but TMC put more and more pressure on the Sea Lions defense as the clock wound down. All five of Sea Lions keeper Tiffany Kracy’s saves were in the second half.

In Point Loma’s final offensive drive, Ashley Adams blasted one at TMC keeper Amanda Durocher, who got her sixth save. The Mustangs rushed back for an attack of their own at the feet of Robyn Estrada. But Kracy stepped in front of it to give the Sea Lions their third consecutive 1-0 victory.

PLNU kept the ball in the air and out-of-bounds in the remaining minutes to guarantee their matchup at third ranked and tournament top seed Azusa on Friday.

“It’s always fun to go play Azusa,” Hall said. “The girls are always happy to go up there. They really want to beat them.”

The upperclassmen are especially eager.

“We’ve never beaten Azusa in my whole college career,” Hernandez said. “It will be a really good one, hopefully.”

Tuesday was a top-seed sweep in the GSAC playoffs, as all of the top-four teams won their games. Conference leader Azusa Pacific, defeated Westmont 1-0. No. 7-ranked California Baptist defeated Fresno Pacific 5-0 and No. 8 Vanguard beat Concordia in a shootout, 1-0. CBU will host VU Friday.

The Sea Lions victory on Tuesday, combined with their No. 14 national ranking, greatly improved the team’s chances of securing a bid to the 2009 Nationals tournament.

Notes: The win was the third in a row by a 1-0 score for PLNU. The Sea Lions lost 1-0 to APU at PLNU this regular season and also 1-0 last year in the first round of the GSAC Tournament. The Sea Lions are 1-11-1 all-time versus Azusa Pacific and now 9-2 against The Master's. If the Sea Lions advance to nationals, it will be the team's third appearance (2006, 2007). Winklepleck took three shots on goal Tuesday. Katie Pedlowe and Kelsey Lundberg each had two. For the Mustangs, Robyn Estrada led the charge with two on goal, while Bobbie Roberts, Rac Hartenberger and Lindsey Gauntlett each had one shot on goal.