By Rob Goodrow
October 3, 2019
 
(ROCKLIN, Calif.) The #7 NAIA ranked Westmont Women's Soccer team (7-1-1, 1-0 GSAC) defeated the William Jessup Warriors (2-8,0-1 GSAC) in the conference opener for both programs. Junior forward Bri Johnson had another multiple goal performance and the Westmont Warriors went on a scoring spree in the second half to run away with the road victory by a score of 5-0.
 
After dominating possession from the outset, Westmont was finally able to capitalize on the offensive end in the 25^th minute when Brooke Porter received a corner kick into the box and played a clean cross to Johnson for the finish. For Westmont head coach Jenny Jaggard today was a new season, which might have allowed for the slow start in finding the net.
 
"We'd just finished phase one of the season (non-conference games) and today we started phase two – GSAC (conference games) – and it's the first game, the score is 0-0, you have to prove yourself again," explained Jaggard. "Being 1-0 at half we kept their hope alive and so I'd have liked to see us put away some of those opportunities we missed on in the first."
 
The defensive side of the ball was where Jaggard saw her Warriors take total control of the game even before the second half yielded four more goals by Westmont.
 
"It was evident today that we have started to prioritize defending and understanding our defensive system so much better now." Continued Jaggard, "Our being organized on defense is where our offense has started, those transitional moments. Today we won because we were good in the transition from winning a 50-50 ball and then sending an attacking pass through into a goal scoring opportunity.
 
"If you're in good shape to defend then it makes it much easier to transition into scoring situations."
 
In the 58^th minute Johnson struck again for Westmont. After dribbling 25 yards to the edge of the box she beat a defender and blasted a shot past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0. Jaggard appreciated the scoring from her forward but praised her all-around team effort.
 
"Bri not only scored two goals today, her defending was so good," complimented Jaggard. "She created a lot of goal scoring opportunities for herself and even more for her teammates. She was really on, really in charge of the situations in front of her today."
 
A controversial call awarded Westmont a penalty kick after forward Grace Duckens and the Jessup goalkeeper became entangled in the box.
 
"It was probably a break for us getting that PK," admitted Jaggard.  "Savannah Scott just buried it in the back of the net. She is so calm under pressure and she was the perfect person to take that shot."
 
After going up 3-0 Westmont turned around and scored twice more in the next ten minutes, as both Maddi Berthoud and Isabelle Berthoud scored their sixth goals of the season. Jaggard noted that her team continues to spread around the scoring and returned to the theme of the Westmont defense.
 
"Anybody on this team can score and yet they are so bought into their roles." Jaggard singled out freshman defender, Willow Martin's exemplary play to illustrate her point.
 
"We are now playing Willow at right back and today was her first full 90 minutes in that new position. She rose to the challenge and had a great game. She's so fit and fast getting up the field and had a couple of good goal scoring opportunities today. She's able to go from attacking to recovering all the way back into her defending position. That takes a lot of effort."
 
Westmont recorded its seventh shutout of the season Thursday.
 
The Warriors continue on the road to face Menlo (2-3-1, 0-0 GSAC) Saturday, October 5, in Atherton at 11 a.m.