By Ron Smith
November 8, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Senior midfielder Jackie Lopez tucked a cross from senior Haley Parzoko into the goal in the 47th minute to give #9 Westmont Women's Soccer (14-3-1) a 1-0 win over #15 The Master's (14-5-1) in a Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game at Vanguard on Wednesday afternoon.
 
"Our plan was to play our game - go out wide and find our forwards' feet," explained Lopez. "That's what we did. I played the ball out wide and Haley had a perfect ball in. I just had to tap it in. It's the way we play."
 
"Well down by Jackie to capitalize the opportunity that we did create," said Westmont head coach Chantel Cappuccilli. "That is what is going to grant you the result in these kind of situations – the one goal you are able to put away. Sometimes it's not easy to stay composed and controlled in that moment, even if you are six yards out from goal.
 
"Haley did a great job to beat her defender on the width, which opened up some runs into the box. I think they lost track of Jackie. Jackie found herself facing forward and was in a good position to hit the ball into the net."
 
As a result, the Warriors advance to the championship game on Friday against Vanguard. The game will be played in Costa Mesa at 2:00 p.m.
 
The game was the third time the Warriors and Mustangs have played in the last 25 days.
 
"In general, playing a team three times in one season proves to be challenging," said Westmont head coach Chantel Cappuccilli. "Our last match of conference play was against Masters.
 
"There's only so many times I can give the same scouting report. They've been in the games, they knew what it is going to look like, and they knew what it was going to look like to make the right tactical adjustments in game. If they are giving us one thing or the other, we knew how to adjust because we'd seen it twice before.
 
"Playing them in the semifinals, we knew it was going to be a battle. In both of the previous games, we came from behind. Our objective today was first, to get the clean sheet, and second, to score first. We were able to accomplish both of those things today.
 
"I am proud of the way we kept our defensive shape and posture throughout the match. It is a really big moment to have a clean sheet at the beginning of postseason play. Moving forward, I think it gives our defensive group some momentum."

"It's just another game that we try to play as best as we can," said Lopez. "We know the way they like to play. We had a game plan and tried to execute it as best as possible. Mentally, we knew it was going to be a tough game, but we just had to go out there and give it everything we can."
 
"I'm really proud of this group," said Cappuccilli, "They've definitely faced some hurdles that they have had to get over in the course of the 18 games we have played. They should be extremely pleased with themselves in the way they are coming into form in the postseason.
 
"The last week and one-half of training has been of such quality that I felt extremely confident coming into this game. They have taken ownership of what the postseason can look like for them. That is an exciting place to be. I am very encouraged by them and they should be encouraged by the result today."
 
Friday, Westmont will look to avenge an earlier loss to Vanguard (15-3). On October 7, Vanguard claimed a 1-0 victory in a game played at Thorrington Field.
 
This time around, Westmont will have a couple of starters in the line-up who missed the previous game due to injury. Defender Kira Nemeth made her season debut today for the Warriors. Forward Bri Johnson has scored twice for the Warriors since her return on October 21.  Johnson scored both the equalizer and the golden goal in Westmont's come-from-behind victory against The Master's on October 28.