By Jordan Wyatt October 2, 2013
 

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In their first Golden State Athletic Conference match of the 2013 season, Westmont Men's Soccer (5-2, 1-0 GSAC) journeyed to La Mirada and consummated the two day Westmont Soccer sweep of Vanguard University, conquering the Lions by a final score of 2-0.

Yesterday, #6 Westmont Women's Soccer defeated #1 Vanguard by a score of 3-0.

Warrior starting goalkeeper Josh Glover, along with the rest of the defense, earned their second shutout on the season with the triumph.

Regular starters Nana Akyen, Cody Howen, and Muhammed Mehai did not play. Tanner Wolf was also limited. However, this only aided in the perpetuation of this season's theme – offensive diversity.

The Warriors' two goals were delivered by members of the squad who had yet to score during the 2013 campaign; midfielder Rick McCarthy and defender Patrick Wynne.

"The story of the night for us was really our depth. A lot of our regulars were unavailable tonight so we had some guys who haven't played much this year play some important minutes for us," commented Warrior Head Coach Dave Wolf.

"Pat Wynne is the best example of that. He replaced Muhammed in the center of the defense. Not only did he play superbly, he also scored a goal. He and Marcos were a fantastic tandem. He wasn't the only one, but I think his performance really exemplified what the game was really about for our team."

After a rather dormant first half that produced only four shot attempts per team, the Warriors sprung to life, with midfielder Sean Siemens serving as the catalyst.

In the 55^th minute of play, Siemens dispatched a cross from the left-hand side of the field that would reach McCarthy just in time as he bolted in from the right to project a header into the upper-right corner of the net for his first goal since August 26, 2010.

McCarthy missed all of last season and most of the 2011 season with two consecutive torn anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

"That was definitely the other big moment," exclaimed Wolf, referencing McCarthy's goal. "Obviously, for as hard as he's worked, and for as much of a journey as that young man has been on – let's just say that there was an eruption of emotion from him when he headed that ball in. That was just a very sweet moment for our whole program. I couldn't be happier for him and for the guys who haven't played that much this year and came up big for us tonight."              

Victory insurance came in the form of a second score when in the 71^st minute a Warrior corner kick matriculated into goal. Siemens sent Westmont's fourth of four corners into the box where it was first touched by defender Marcos Lopez and then converted by Wynne. Siemens and Lopez were both credited with assists.

Through seven matches, Westmont has garnered 12 total goals from eight Warriors, as well as 13 total assists from seven squad members. On the whole, 11 Warriors have supplied at least one goal or assist as we approach the halfway point of the regular season.

The current team leader in goals scored is Cody Howen with three. Howen and Siemens are tied with three assists each to lead the Warriors in that category.

"To start off the league on the road and to get a win in our first GSAC game was great," expressed Wolf. "We've played a lot this year without Nana, who most people who have said coming into this season was our best player. Even with the very limited minutes that he's played, we've been able to get positive results.

"This team is certainly starting to believe that they can win games, and that's a powerful quality to have."

Next up for the men is conference foe San Diego Christian on Saturday, October 5. The Homecoming weekend game begins at 12 p.m., noon at Thorrington Field.