By Jacob Norling
April 6, 2021

(TEMECULA, Calif.) #17 Westmont (6-1-1, 5-0-1) has completed the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season undefeated after defeating San Diego (5-6, 1-5) on Tuesday by a score of 6-0.
 
"It was a really terrific way to finish up the regular season," said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. "It's always nice to score goals because usually that's accompanied by confidence."
 
Westmont caused traffic early and often in the San Diego eighteen, as they scored three goals in the first twenty minutes. The first of the day occurred in the 15th minute when the Warriors pressure in the box became too much for the Hawks to handle as their inability to clear the ball led to an own goal and a 1-0 Westmont lead.
 
The Warriors gave the Hawks no time to settle in, as less than three minutes later Owen Bates deposited Westmont's second goal of the day off of an assist by Micah Nelson. Bates came into the year with four goals in his first two seasons combined, and has now matched that total this season after scoring four goals in the Warrior's last five games.
 
"Owen has definitely hit a different gear," said Wolf. "His play adds a layer to our attack that's been missing. It opens things up for Sam, Jona, and everyone else in the final third because if Owen keeps threatening they're going to have to commit some cover for him."
 
For Nelson, good karma came around quickly following his assist to Bates, as Jona Romero found Nelson open in the box less than a minute after Bates scored. Nelson struck the back of the net for his first goal in a Westmont uniform.
 
Westmont did not allow a shot on goal in the first half and then in the first minute of the second, Måns Ingvarson had to make his first save of the day off of a shot by Kieran Chance. The Warriors quickly woke back up and scored their fourth goal of the day in the 53rd minute when Cole DiMatteo collected his first Westmont goal.
 
Nelson made sure to return Romero's favor from earlier in the match, when in the 79th minute Nelson fed Romero a through ball into the box that led to Jona hammering home Westmont's fifth. Westmont added on goal number six on Josh Phillips' first collegiate goal in the 88th minute.
 
The Warriors had twice as many goals as they allowed shots on goal and finished the GSAC regular season with a 6-0 victory.
 
"It was great to get a bunch of guys on the scoresheet," said Wolf. "For Cole, Micah, and Josh they got on the scoresheet for the first time in their Westmont careers. Getting to have those guys get on the board was an added bonus to the day."
 
The Warriors next scheduled match is the GSAC Championship Game ten days from now in Surprise, Arizona. Westmont will be facing OUAZ on the Spirit's home field with an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament on the line.
 
The last time those two teams met was in the GSAC tournament semi-final on November 13, 2019. After Westmont hadn't lost to an NAIA opponent all season, the Spirit upset the #4 ranked Warriors 3-0 on Thorrington Field. It was the first of two consecutive losses to end Westmont's season. Nearly a year and a half later, Westmont has a chance to rewrite the script.
 
"I just told my team the last time we were in this situation with Ottawa, and I include myself, we weren't ready." Said Wolf. "We'll be ready this time. I'm not guaranteeing anything further than that, but I am guaranteeing we'll be ready for that game in a way we were not last time."