By Ron Smith
September 14, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Soccer (0-3-1) found themselves unable to stop the Broncos from Cal Poly Pomona from finding the back of the net on Saturday at Thorrington Field. The undefeated Broncos (4-0), fresh off an upset of #1 Point Loma Nazarene (2-1) on Thursday, showed no signs of slowing down on Saturday.
 
The Broncos' first goal came in the 22nd minute. A corner kick was headed by Cal Poly's Auburn Burnett to her teammate Vanessa Cruz. Cruz headed the ball toward the upper right corner. It hit the crossbar and bounced down. Initially, it was not clear if the ball crossed the end line but the assistant referee ruled that it had done so, making the game 1-0.
 
At the end of the 30th minute, Chloe Green twirled and took a shot that ricocheted off the right post and back into play on the left side of the goal. Marisa Salazar ran down the ball and fired from the left side of the goal into the back of the net.
 
In the 39th minute, Alexis Macias dribbled from the right touch line to the right corner of the six-yard box where she launched the ball into the top left corner.
 
Salazar struck again in the 51st minute, intercepting a pass and hitting a line drive into the left corner of the net from 30 yards out.
 
The bright spot for the Warriors came in the 73rd minute. Amarys Machado passed a ball to Kennah Shaffer near the right touch line. From the Warriors' defensive half, Shaffer kicked the ball over the top, past the Broncos' back line.
 
As two Cal Poly defenders ran back to retrieve the ball, Amelia Villa ran charge from behind. One of the defenders passed the ball back to the keeper. Villa continued her pursuit of the ball and as the goalkeeper received the pass, it bounced away from her and headed to the keepers' left. The keeper attempted to clear it with a slide but Villa touched it forward, leaving the keeper on the ground and Villa all alone with an empty net. From the top right corner of the six-yard box, Villa sent the ball along the ground into a welcoming net.
 
"Amelia made that goal happen by sheer willpower, which is the sign of a great leader," said Westmont's head coach Jenny Jaggard. "Just like in Thursday's game, she was up and down the field doing everything. We need to make that contagious."
 
The final goal of the game came in the 88th minute. Lizzy Northcott sent a line drive from near the right corner and Macias deflected it into the far corner of the net.
 
Next weekend the Warriors hit the road for a pair of games. On Friday, the Warriors will take on Stanislaus State in Turlock. Then the Warriors will travel to Rohnert Park for a match-up with Sonoma State.
 
On Thursday, September 26, the Warriors will conclude their non-conference season by hosting the Coyotes of Cal State San Bernardino at Thorrington Field.