For the second time this week, #25 Westmont Women's Soccer (8-2, 3-0 GSAC) has defeated a ranked opponent, this time defeating fourth-ranked Concordia (9-2-1, 1-1-1) by a score of 3-2. On Tuesday, the Warriors defeated #14 The Master's by a 2-1 count. Westmont and Point Loma Nazarene now sit atop the GSAC women's soccer standings with identical 3-0 records.
"I am encouraged and inspired by these young women," said Westmont head coach Kristi Kiely. "I gave them all the credit for the work that they have put in, the way that they have implemented the things we are trying to teach them, the way they think about the game and the way that they process afterwards. They are evolving into successful soccer players. It is fun to be a part of it."
In the thirtieth minute of play, the Warriors scored the only goal of the first half. Freshman Christine Adams sent in a ball from the left sideline that junior captain Aolani Rueff poked in the net from six yards out. The goal was the third of the season for Rueff while Adams picked up her first assist.
At halftime, the talk in the Westmont huddle centered around being prepared for the intensity with which Concordia was expected to respond.
"Concordia, the number four team in the country, was down 1-0," said Kiely. " We talked about how they were going to come out intense and it is hard to match that intensity when you are playing well and are up a goal. I thought Concordia did a good job of coming out and coming after us in the first few minutes. But we responded well and got our second goal before they got one."
That second goal came off the foot of freshman Tiffany Dimaculangan, as she scored her first collegiate goal in the fifty-seventh minute.
"Mallory played a great ball into Tiff and Tiff was courageous going against the keeper to tip it in," noted Kiely. "We flipped Tiffany and Melanie Green, putting Tiffany up higher in the attack and returning Mel to a spot where she is a little bit more comfortable."
Just two and one-half minutes later, Concordia's Arianna Vaughn responded to pull the Eagles to within one point. Vaughn fired toward the left side of the net and just snuck the ball past Westmont keeper Lindsey Smith.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Westmont restored its two-goal cushion on a goal by Sophie Judd, her second of the season. During a jumble at the mouth of the goal, Rueff made a soft pass to Judd who put the ball into the back of the net.
Once again, the Eagles responded quickly, scoring in the sixty-ninth minute on another unassisted goal by Vaughn. Clinging to a one-goal lead, the Warriors held on over the next 15 minutes to claim the victory.
"I give the entire team credit for winning every 50-50 ball in the last five minutes," said Kiely. "The players were determined not to give up even the 50-50 balls which sometimes you think you can let go.
"Alison Hensley played really well today," added the coach. "She calmed us down, kept us organized and won everything in the air."
Next Wednesday, the Warriors will hit the road to take on #3 Azusa Pacific – their third ranked opponent in a row. Kick-off in Azusa is scheduled for three o'clock.
