By Ron Smith
November 6, 2021
 
(ATHERTON, Calif.) The season came to an end today for Westmont Men's Soccer (5-8-1, 3-4-1 GSAC) in the Golden State Athletic Conference quarterfinals. The Warriors lost to the Oaks of Menlo by a score of 3-0.
 
The Warriors found themselves in a hole early when Menlo scored in just the third minute of play. Menlo's Levin Ledergerber sent a cross to Evan Snodgrass on the left side of the box. Snodgrass put the shot inside the near post to put the Oaks up 1-0.
 
"The script that was all too familiar with the conceding of the first goal early, happened again today," acknowledged Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. "In some ways, we can have no complaints. We have talked about it plenty and tried to address it in different ways, but we were never able to solve that issue. That is a little bit perplexing and mystifying to me, but it happened with such frequency this year. The duress we had to play under this year as a result of that caught up with us today."
 
The second goal came in the 33rd minute, the result of a penalty kick after a foul in the box. Ledergerber took the kick and provided Menlo with a 2-0 lead, which it took into halftime.
 
The Warriors came on strong in the second half and dominated the first 15 minutes.
 
"We asked them at halftime to give a 45-minute demonstration of character and all of the things that means," said Wolf. "I think they did that. However, we finally ran out of gas this fall. We have been wobbling for a good bit of it. They have stayed on their feet and found ways to answer the bell, to use a boxing analogy, but in round number 12, we finally toppled over."
 
In the 74th minute, Menlo's Basil Merk put the nail in the coffin when he converted a cross from Daksh Gupta.
 
Both teams took ten shots during the game with Westmont placing four on goal and Menlo three. Unfortunately for the Warriors, Menlo scored on all three it put on target.
 
"Obviously, there is the disappointment of the loss and the disappointment of the season coming to an end," said Wolf, "but I think you very quickly think about Sammy and Wyatt and Memo and K.C. and Zach, and your thoughts and emotions go in that direction. These guys have been very important parts of this program."
 
Samuel Tuscano, Wyatt Babineau, Memo Mendoza, Kevin Smith and Zach Godeck now join a prestigious heritage of Westmont soccer alumni who have worn the Maroon and White, have represented the Warriors on the pitch, and have contributed to the Warrior legacy.