With only 17 healthy players, the Westmont Women's Soccer team stepped onto Harder field to play in an exhibition match against the 34-player strong UCSB Gauchos. Ample personnel, a home game, and a pair of gaucho goals in the first half secured the 2-0 UCSB win over the Westmont Warriors.

The Warrior defense was immediately tested with two quick UCSB shots fired in the first two minutes of the game. Lead by junior captain Sophie Fuller, the Warrior defense thwarted all but two of the Gauchos offensive schemes by cutting off passes, by winning the ball in the air, and by staying organized as a defensive unit.

"I am very happy with how she lead the defense tonight," said Westmont head coach, Chantel Cappuccilli while reflecting on an outstanding performance by Fuller. "She was all over the place tonight and also had a calm and collected poise about her. I am really proud of how she handled herself."

After a solid initial defensive effort by the Warriors, the Gauchos scored the first goal of the game in the 19th minute off of a corner kick. Westmont goalkeeper Lauren Dorr made a fantastic initial save by punching out a corner kick taken by UCSB defender, Malanna Wheat. Unfortunately Dorr's save bounced off of a Westmont defender and crossed the Warrior goal line for a Gaucho goal.

The second goal came in the 42nd minute when senior forward Angelisa Cortez drove with the ball down the Warrior's left sideline and then passed it across the face of the goal to forward, Makenna Kummer, who scored in a one-time finish from ten yards out.

Westmont's first great opportunity on goal came in the 31st minute of the second half when senior forward Kelsey Steck was fouled on the top of the 18. Junior midfielder, Brooke Lilywhite, took the free kick and hit a low and hard driven ball towards the right side of the goal, missing by just a foot.

Lillywhite was the heartbeat of the Warrior offense as she was responsible for three of the team's game total of six shots on goal. She consistently worked hard to be a passing option, to hold the ball in the midst of high pressure, and to move the ball quickly and effectively down the field.

Cappuccilli in a realistic, yet positive reflection on the game said, "I think that being a week into it, we still have work to do, but there are still some encouraging moments. Some new players are stepping into new roles and even returners are stepping into roles they haven't seen before. I think it is a process and a period of time where we have to work through some of these things."

Among these new players is freshman, Hailey Parker, who proved to be an effective addition to the Warrior offense in her first collegiate soccer appearance. Parker posed some key one-touch passes and took one of the Warrior's six shots on goal in the 55 minutes that she played.

With an exhibition match under their belt, the Warriors look ahead to a scrimmage on their home field against Cal Poly San Louis Obispo on Monday, August 16, at 1:00 p.m.