By Jacob Norling
September 23, 2023
 
(AZUSA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Soccer went head-to-head with PacWest rival Azusa Pacific on Saturday night, in what was a non-conference battle before next week's PacWest openers. The APU defense did not allow Westmont much room to work with around their 18, and on the other side of the pitch, Westmont's hands were full for a majority of play.
 
Thanks to four saves from Maya Pablos, and stellar efforts from Taylie Scott and Shayna Stock, the Warriors were able to escape Azusa Pacific with a 0-0 draw.
 
"I want the focus of today's story to be on the defending piece of our game," said Westmont head coach Jenny Jaggard. "I watched all of Azusa's other games this week, and they were running circles around teams with their passing combinations.
 
"We completely shut that down today. Where we grew today, was in our defensive organization. We were so good in the middle and back-third against a team that's extremely dangerous. The way APU moves the ball is better than any Division II team I've seen all year. The way we were able to shut that down today made me super happy."
 
The first 45 minutes of the contest saw neither side put up a single shot on goal, with Westmont only posting a single shot of any kind. In the eighth minute Amarys Machado let one fly towards the goal, but well to the right of the post without threatening the goal line.
 
On the other side of the field, Azusa Pacific had three shots during the half, and threatened multiple times in the final 15 minutes of the period. In the 33rd minute APU's Katie O'Brien had a look at Maya Pablos, but hooked her shot left. Then, three minutes later, the Cougars had the half's most dangerous opportunity.
 
Azusa Pacific's Angela Cipriano came the closest of any player to putting a shot on frame, but after being given a clean look at Westmont's net, Cipriano rocked a shot that smacked the crossbar. Fortunately for Westmont, the deflection did not bounce into harm's way and the defense was able to survive the possession, and the final 10 minutes of the half, keeping the game 0-0.
 
In the second half, APU had a shot within 30 seconds of kickoff, but luckily for Westmont, the attempt soared north of the high-post. Five minutes later, however, the Cougars were the first of the two teams to fire a shot on frame. Avery Guiel's first attempt in Westmont's box was blocked by a Westmont defender, but on the ricochet, Guiel darted the ball towards the center of the net.
 
Pablos was able to snare the 51st-minute shot, keeping the game knotted at zero with the day's first save. Three minutes later Pablos was challenged by Guiel again, this time when the Cougar followed a long pass into the left-side of the six-yard box. With Guiel and Pablos converging, the Cougar shot high this time, but once again, Pablos was able to swat it away for her second save.
 
The 69th minute saw Westmont almost concede once again when O'Brien was the next Cougar to have a go at Pablos, but once again, APU's shot flew directly into the hands of Westmont's keeper. With just under 10 minutes to play the Cougars sent another long ball into the box, this time finding an open Guiel on a run. Guiel was the last Cougar to have a go at Pablos, but once more, the ball found the gloves of Pablos.
 
Nine more minutes came and went without the Cougars coming away with another opportunity, giving Pablos and the Westmont defense a well-earned shutout. Offensively, the Warriors would end the match being credited with just one shot on goal, which, unfortunately, was an attempt that did not truly threaten Azusa Pacific's backline.
 
"Breaking through their midfield was the hardest part," explained Jaggard. "We honestly just missed really good opportunities today. It's a piece of our game that we just have to get better at, because we had them so exposed at certain points.
 
"We just weren't dangerous, and we need to keep working at it. We broke things down at the end, and if we had any quality shots we could've changed that game. We know how to beat teams like this, but now it's just a matter of developing a few more players that can make the right decisions in that final third."
 
The Warriors will return to action on Saturday, September 30, at 7:00 p.m., when they travel to La Mirada to battle Biola in the program's first PacWest game. Links to live coverage will be available on the Westmont Athletics website.