By Ron Smith
October 3, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) A goal in the 87th minute put Westmont Women's Soccer (2-5-2, 2-0 PacWest) ahead for the first time in the game and proved to be the winning goal in the PacWest contest with Azusa Pacific (5-1-1, 1-1) at Thorrington Field. The game was characterized by odd goals and strange bounces.
 
The Warriors found themselves down 1-0 in the 23rd minute when they were charged with an own goal. A lobbed cross by Alexis Fuller bounced over the outstretched arms of Westmont's keeper before being bumped into the goal by a Warrior defender.
 
"We still have some moments we need to clean up defensively in our box," said Jaggard of the goal she described as weird. "It is still a little bit of a struggle but we are vastly improved. That team is very dangerous on set pieces. For the most part, we were able to handle it."
 
It was not until the 59th minute that the Warriors would produce the first of two equalizers they would need. After a Cougar defender passed the ball back to her goalkeeper, Amarys Machado challenged the keeper. The keeper, who was to her left of the goal, attempted to send the ball down the field. Instead, Machado got in the way and the ball bounced off the senior forward and headed across the face of the goal. Madeline Steinbach, who was running toward the goal, tapped the ball into the back of the net to make it a 1-1 game.
 
"Our first goal was scrappy," assessed Jaggard. "It was being in the right places at the right time so that when it squeaks out you are there to put it away. That is something that the whole team has grown better at – getting coverage in important times and places."
 
"We had watched film and knew some of APU's tendencies. We were hopeful with the type of press we were going to do that there was a probability that they were going to spin a ball out like that."
 
Just six minutes later, the Cougars retook the lead. Faith Crouse fired a shot from the left side. The ball hit a Warrior defender and deflected into the net.
 
In the 75th minute, Westmont's Vanessa Alcala sent a ball from the left touchline into the box where Ameila Villa headed it towards the ground. Steinbach planted her right foot and just after the ball bounced a second time, fired off a shot with her left. The ball cleared a leaping goalkeeper, then hit the crossbar. Before the keeper's feet returned to the ground, the ball ricocheted off the crossbar, hit her in the back of the head and nestled itself in the left-hand crease.
 
"Maddy is opportunistic and is a true finisher," noted Jaggard. "It may be close, but that is because she puts things away from the keeper. You put the ball at her feet and she is going to create chaos."
 
The Warriors' winning goal came from a set piece. As Madison Ford took a free kick from 40 yards out, Machado was dashing from the top of the 18-yard box. Machado's head and the ball connected near the top of the six-yard box where she flicked it into the right-hand crease.
 
"Amarys is stepping her game up," assessed Jaggard. "She put herself in a good spot and finished.
 
"Our midfield, our two tens – particularly Amelia and Ellie Gilbert – were incredible today. Azusa's midfield game is normally so spectacular, but we took control. That was one of the keys to our success.
 
"Alyssa Zahiralis had a fantastic game. Her defending is getting better and better. Together with Madison Ford, and Makenna Meyers – that unit has gotten really solid.
 
"Shayna Stock was doing a lot of good work, but for whatever reason we were not able to find her. We need to work on finding Shayna more."
 
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to San Diego to take on the Sea Lions of Point Loma (6-1-1, 3-0), who are the defending NCAA DII national champions. The game time has been moved back to 2:30 p.m.