By: Zach DeMarcus
September 12, 2018
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) #10 Westmont Women's Soccer (6-0-1) found the back of the net twice in the last 25 minutes of the game to secure a 2-0 victory over the visiting Pioneers of Antelope Valley (1-5-1). Hailey Parker and Teagan Matye both scored their third goals of the season in the win.
 
Westmont head coach Chantel Cappuccilli said, "We didn't do a very good job of consistently moving the ball at pace. As the game progressed and we started to possess at a higher pace, that's when things opened up for us. I believe the two late goals were scored due to the way we were moving the ball later in the match."
 
The Warriors outshot the Pioneers 18-11 on the afternoon, but Antelope Valley did have their fair share of chances. None bigger than in the 54th minute. Andrea Bedoya hit a ball from 15 yards out that hit the crossbar and bounced down and away from the goal.
 
Valerie Romero picked up the loose ball and fired a shot that again ricocheted off the cross bar. The barrage didn't end until Alexa Benitiz fired the third shot of the exchange and Gabi Haw made the save to avert the threat.
 
"(Offensively) I knew it would take one for us to get going," noted coach. "It was just unfortunate how long it took us to get one. Once we did, the field just opened up and we were able to create more," added coach.
 
Westmont's search for goal ended in the 65th minute. Kira Nemeth was played out wide on the left. She took the space in front of her before crossing the ball to Hailey Parker who one-touched it past the keeper.
 
The Pioneers looked to equalize in the 69th minute as Savannah Scott was given a yellow card and Antelope Valley was given a free kick from 25 yards out. Romero stepped up to take the kick and ripped a shot that forced Haw to leap and punch the ball up and away from danger.  
 
In the 77th minute, Westmont struck again. A cross came in from the right side from Maddi Berthoud. There was a scramble in the box that Matye was on the receiving end of. She took a touch to her right and fired past the keeper – extending the Warriors lead to two.
 
"I think that Maddi's distribution to the box was key in order for us to continue with the momentum that we had," noted coach.
 
"I'm happy that we at least got a shutout today. One of the areas that we preached over the last few days was that regardless of who you're playing against, they're dangerous if you continue to give them hope and keep them in the game," commented Cappuccilli. 
 
The Warriors will return to Thorrington Field this Saturday as the men and women play host to the Cougars of Azusa Pacific. The women kickoff at 1:30 p.m. with the men following at 4:00 p.m.
 
"I think Saturday will be a good match for us," commented Cappuccilli. "We have to continue to sharpen up a few things moving forward and try to build some consistency over the course of 90 minutes."