By Ron Smith
September 13, 2021
 
(LA GRANDE, Ore.) Westmont Women's Soccer (3-1-1), ranked 17th in the NAIA, suffered a 1-0 loss to #13 Eastern Oregon (3-1) on the Mountaineers' home field. The loss came despite the Warriors outshooting their hosts 21-8.
 
"We did a good job of pressing their 3-5-2 formation," said Westmont head coach Jenny Jaggard. "I was concerned that with the formation we play it is hard to deal with a team that has two super-wide wingers. We figured it out. They barely got any opportunities from those flank spaces. That has been my biggest concern using our formation this year. We did a good job of getting pressure and keeping it in our attacking half the majority of this game."
 
While both teams had chances in the scoreless opening half, Westmont had the run of play for the majority of the first 45 minutes. The Warriors tallied 10 shots to Eastern Oregon's three and were awarded three corner kicks to one for the Mountaineers.
 
Twice – once in the waning minutes of the first half and again in the opening moments of the second half - Warrior players had on-target shots that deflected off of a teammate, preventing the attack.
 
In the 52nd minute, Eastern Oregon had a dangerous opportunity that could have broken the stalemate. Yaya Chavarria-Mondr took a shot from the left side that almost snuck inside the near corner. However, Westmont keeper Kailey Meyer was able to corral the shot and end the threat.
 
Three minutes later, Reese Davidson attempted a chip shot from beyond the 18 that was reminiscent of her goal against Rocky Mountain. This time, however, the Warriors' leading scorer sent the ball just over the crossbar.
 
In the 60th minute, Oregon's Kaitlyn McLeod took a shot from distance that would have snuck under the crossbar except for Meyer's efforts to punch it up and over the goal.
 
Davidson had another chance to strike the first blow in the 64th minute. Shayna Stock sent a ball into the box that found the head of Davidson as she raced toward the goal. Davidson headed the ball downward and toward the goal, but Madeline Barker, the Mountaineers' keeper, was able to snag the shot.
 
In the 75th minute, Teagan Matye took a shot on a ball that was played over the top. Tracking the ball down around the six-yard box, Matye fired on goal, but a quick reaction by Barker resulted in another save, leaving the game scoreless.
 
The decisive goal came in the 77th minute after Morgan Farrington was taken down just inside the left corner of the 18-yard box. Farrington took the resulting penalty kick and converted it for the only score of the game.
 
Westmont was able to get off four more shots in the remaining 13 minutes, but none of them would find the back of the net.
 
"The learning curve for the defending piece of our team is very good," assessed Jaggard. "The grittiness is super encouraging because it demands a lot of running to cover those flank spaces when you are starting central. They did a really good job of that, which is a reflection of how fit a team we are.
 
"Offensively, we generated a lot of opportunities. We are getting so much better at keeping the ball and combining through pressure and creating moments where the ball is close to shooting range. It is just the final piece where we are failing to find a corner and finish."
 
The Warriors return home to resume the season on Friday, September 17 when they host the Pioneers of Antelope Valley (1-3). Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.