By Ron Smith
October 27, 2018
 
(PHOENIX) Despite two unanswered goals in the first half, #10 Westmont Women's Soccer (12-1-3, 5-1-2 GSAC) finished the 2018 Golden State Athletic Conference regular season in a 2-2 double-overtime tie with Arizona Christian (12-4-2, 5-2-1).
 
"I thought we came out well and had several quick opportunities out of the gate," said Westmont head coach Chantel Cappuccilli.
 
The Warriors got on the board when Bri Johnson scored by putting in a rebound off of a shot by Maddi Berthoud in the 10th minute of play.
 
In the next minute, Westmont doubled its advantage when Hailey Parker headed the ball home.
 
"Valerie Swisher did a tremendous job to win the ball off a defensive back," reported Cappuccilli. "She played the ball to Maddi through two defenders. Maddi found Hailey in box and Hailey headed it in."
 
Westmont maintained its 2-0 lead for 64 minutes of play before surrendering a goal in the 75th minute to the Firestorms' Hanna Perez. Sabrina Rivera played a ball over the top that Perez finished.
 
In the 82nd minute, Perez scored again, tying the game at two goals apiece.
 
"In the second half, we were too casual," said Cappuccilli. "We had a number of opportunities to finish off the game and didn't. We gave them hope on their senior day and they worked for it. We didn't finish our chances and did not defend well."
 
After neither team recorded a goal in the two overtime periods, the game was declared a draw.
 
In other GSAC games, #4 Vanguard (14-1, 8-0) posted a 4-0 win over William Jessup (6-12, 1-7), the Master's (12-5-1, 5-3) recorded a 1-0 win over Ottawa (11-5-2) and Hope International (10-5-2, 4-2-2) defeated Menlo 3-1.
 
Vanguard won the GSAC Regular Season Championship and thereby earned the top seed in the GSAC Tournament and a first round bye. Westmont finished in second place and will be the second seed. Westmont also received a first-round bye.
 
The Master's will be the third seed and will host sixth-seeded Arizona Christian in a first round game next Saturday, November 3. Hope International is the number four seed and host fifth-seeded Menlo. Ottawa, who placed fifth in the conference, is not eligible for postseason play because it is a first-year member of the NAIA.
 
The remainder of the tournament will be played at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine beginning with the semifinals on Thursday, November 8. Vanguard will play the lowest remaining seed at 1:30 p.m., preceded by Westmont playing the other first-round winner beginning at 11:00 a.m. Semifinal winners will advance to the championship game on Saturday, November 10 at four o'clock.