By Ron Smith
November 14, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont (14-2-1) advanced to the championship game of the 2019 Golden State Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament with a 2-0 win over OUAZ of Arizona (13-7) in a semifinal match-up.
 
"It has been a Cinderella story for us this year," said Westmont head coach Jenny Jaggard. "I never expected coming in as a first-time head coach that this much magic could happen in one year. They are a special group and they work hard. We have a good dynamic going and I am super hopeful that we can take this title."
 
The Warriors will host the Lions of Vanguard (12-2-2) in a showdown between the GSAC regular season co-champions. Vanguard advanced on the basis of a 1-0 win over The Master's (12-5-3) in the first semifinal game.
 
This will be the second time in three years that Westmont and Vanguard have met up in the championship game. Two years ago in Costa Mesa, the two teams played to a 1-1 tie before the Lions claimed the GSAC's automatic berth into the national championship by winning on penalty kicks 4-1.
 
In today's semifinal game, the Warriors scored in the 13th and 14th minute. Kira Nemeth crossed a ball from the left flank that Maddi Berthoud headed toward the goal. The ball went just below the crossbar, forcing OUAZ' keeper Krysten Caballero to reach high and behind her to grab the ball. However, Caballero was unable to keep her balance and fell into the goal, carrying the ball with her.
 
"Maddi doesn't normally head the ball," noted Jaggard. "I was happy she was able to time that to place the ball. She had an exceptional game. Not just her goal, but her defensive work was really good. She also combined well with Bri Johnson and did a good job of changing the tempo of the game."
 
The goal was the ninth of the year for Berthoud and the 40th of her career. She is now tied with Brooke Lillywhite for ninth on the Warriors' career goals list.
 
"We are moving the ball well," said Jaggard. "Obviously, the only piece that was missing today was finishing more of those opportunities. Everything else is coming together. This game was the best the forwards have combined with each other. We are working more as a team than we have in the past."
 
Just 84 seconds after the first goal, Nemeth sent a ball along the ground in front of the goal. An OUAZ defender tried to block it, but instead redirected it into the net for an own goal.
 
"It was a great ball sent in," said Jaggard. "It was an own goal, but Kira created that. The majority of college goals are scored by defensive errors. You just have to get the ball in front of the goal as much as possible."
 
Westmont and Vanguard will kick-off at Thorrington Field on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
 
"It will be a totally different style of soccer on Saturday," predicted Jaggard. "It will be a fun match-up. We have a rivalry going on and it should be a battle. They are very direct and physical and we are very possession oriented. We are a kind of antithesis to each other. I'm excited to get this game because it is good to get some competition like this before playing in nationals."
 
The Warriors and Lions have faced off 42 previous times with Westmont holding a 29-8-5 advantage. In the past 10 meetings, Westmont has won five times, while Vanguard claims three wins, leaving two ties. On October 3, the Warriors posted a 3-0 home win.