Inserted into the game in the seventeenth minute, Ashley Correa sparked the team by flinging beautiful crosses, winning possessions of fifty-fifty balls, and asserting herself as an offensive presence to be reckoned with. That spark lit ablaze in the eightieth minute when Correa scored on a free kick that dodged the wall of defenders and slid passed the goalie's outstretched arms.

The free kick was awarded when Tiffany Dimaculangan split the defense and drew a foul right outside the box. The goal proved to be the deciding factor as the #18 Westmont Women's Soccer (11-5, 6-3 GSAC) team knocked off the previously unbeaten and third ranked Sea Lions of Point Loma Nazarene (16-1-1, 8-1) in dramatic fashion on Thorrington Field. Junior Aolani Rueff added an assurance goal off a rebound to make the final score 2-0 in the final Golden State Athletic Conference regular season game of the year.

On a day that honored three seniors – Melanie Greene, Samantha Kleen, and Leeza Henderson – there was plenty to play for.

"It is a big game and it's like every other game at the same time," said Kristi Kiely, Westmont women's soccer head coach, before the game. "It's big because it could secure us a first round home game for playoffs, it would be fun to knock off the top team in the GSAC, but it's like any other in that you have to prepare for it, stay focused and play your best."

Melanie Greene, however, was more poignant when describing the gravity of the game: "We had a lot of things riding on this game, like going to the National tournament and getting a home game next week and making a lasting memory for one of my last home games."

It sure seemed like there were high stakes on the line, as both teams attacked relentlessly trying to find a chink in the opponent's armor. Leading up to this game, the seniors conveyed to the team that this game was not only about winning, but more importantly about feeling a sense of unity and playing their best soccer yet. The team caught their drift.

With the defense, anchored by sophomore center back Alison Hensley denying all attacks of the high-flying speed of Point Loma's forwards, the defense was as stout as ever. "We must double team down the flanks where they like to play, step to and win every ball we can and deny any corner kicks or throw-ins in our final third. They tend to play down the flanks and for the corners so we will attempt to deny them," said Kiely while preparing for the matchup.

Her message got across. Westmont gave up three corners in the first half – including a couple of shots on goal and one that nicked the crossbar – but Westmont clamped down and relinquished none in the second half.

"(Assistant coach) Dan Ribbens had some great insight this week on a couple of things we have tweaked a bit and I believe those things have made us successful,' said Kiely. "We look to build on them in the post season."

Westmont has earned a first round home playoff game against Concordia in the first round of the GSAC Tournament. The game will be played on Tuesday afternoon at two on Thorrington Field. The Warriors also procured a key victory to add to their resume for a chance at an at-large bid for the NAIA National Championship.

The momentum seems to have shifted in the Warrior's favor, with the hopes that the fire will continue to burn for the remainder of the season.