By Ron Smith
October 9, 2025
 
(ATHERTON, Calif.) A trio of goals gave Westmont Women's Soccer (1-7, 1-1 PacWest) its first win of the year as the Warriors felled the Oaks of Menlo (2-4-2, 0-3-1) by a score of 3-1.
 
"It was a good, hard, well-earned win," expressed Westmont's head coach Lauren Matthias, "which makes it sweeter."
 
The game started with an unfortunate circumstance. In just the fourth minute of play, an Oaks' free kick from midfield went askew as it bounced just above the 18-yard box. The ball veered to the left, contacting the right forearm of Makenna Meyers as she was airborne in an attempt to chest the ball. The result was a penalty kick awarded to Menlo.
 
Verenia Gonzalez stepped up for the Oaks and took the PK, sending the ball into the right-hand crease and just out of the reach of Westmont goalkeeper Ellie Ludwig.
 
"Going into pregame, we told the team we had some scars on us and some battle wounds, but we are more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. We could have kept ourselves in a hole after the PK. I was proud of the way we kept consistent and didn't stray away from the game plan and what we needed to do. The buy-in stayed true even after conceding the goal. There was no drop in belief."
 
In the 12th and 13th minute, Ludwig kept the Warriors in the game with a couple of outstanding saves. Menlo's Haley Dunham got free with the ball and sent a shot from 22 yards out that was targeted just underneath the cross bar. Ludwig timed her leap right and tipped the ball over the goal.
 
Then on the ensuing corner kick, Ludwig blocked a header from Sarah Naumu before corralling the ball to end the threat.
 
"One of the goals for our keepers in this game was to command and own their space well," reported Matthias. "Ellie did that well today. It is a bummer that the PK went in because I think the clean sheet would have been really well earned. She did a fantastic job of being in the right place, not trying to do too much, and setting herself up well to make those saves."
 
Westmont's first shot came in the 15th minute and proved to be the equalizer. From the center of the pitch, Meyers sent a ball to the right of the 18-yard box. Madeline Steinbach settled the ball with her foot, then ran on it and sent it to Amelia Villa who was on the left side of the box. Villa collected the ball, then sent a line drive across the face of the goal. Sierra Martin, running in from the top of the six-yard box, redirected it into the right-hand crease.
 
"We have been working on that kind of pattern for weeks," noted Matthias. "For us to finally see something produced out of our efforts was awesome and so nice for everyone."
 
The game remained tied at one throughout the remainder of the first half, but that changed quickly once play resumed in the second half.
 
In the 48th minute, Giselle Cancino threw in the ball from the right touchline, about 22 yards from the end line. Cancino sent it just outside the right corner of the 18-yard box where Kaia Diederichs settled the ball, then sent it back to Cancino. The sophomore served the ball to the top of the 18 where she found Villa who headed it down and to the left. Skyler McNamara ran on the ball and fired with her left foot from about five yards out, sending it past the keeper into the center of the net.
 
Westmont added the final goal in the 19th minute to go up 3-1. Ellie Gilbert sent a corner kick into the box and chaos ensued in front of the net. The ball popped out to McNamara who was about 12 yards in front of the goal. After McNamara headed it back toward the goal, Sydney Reese raised her right leg and, with a high kick, powered it into the right side netting.
 
The Warriors demonstrated offensive efficiency in the game, placing 11 of their 14 shots on goal.
                    
"One of our objectives for today was for our forwards, or anyone in goal scoring areas, to be scrappy and get the ball in the net," explained Matthias. "I told the players that today was the day you draw a line on the sand and pick which side you want to be on. 'Do you want to be on the winning side, or the losing side? Arm and arm, we don't come out of this game without being on the side we want to be on.'
 
"You saw that today in our finishing and the opportunities that we had. They made the most of them. They decided we weren't coming out of the game without the win.
 
"Madison Ford has been out for three weeks (with an injury) and today had one of her best games of the year. She helped us control things in the air. She is so good at placing the ball and she has a leg on her. She can get the ball anywhere we ask her to put it.
 
"Skyler did a good job up top of holding the ball. Madi Steinbach did a good job in the first half shooting down the flank using her speed. She could have also had a goal today. Sierra works so hard defensively, so it is nice to see her get on the scoresheet.
 
"Sydney Reese leaves it on the field every game, so for her to get one in was very special. This was a hometown game for her. Her whole family is from the Bay Area, so she had a lot of her family and friends here. That was the cherry on top."
 
Reflecting on getting the first win of the season, Matthias said, "After all these losses, I have never once found myself complaining about this group. The buy-in, the motivation, the hunger to continue to grow and get better has not waivered at all in the last six weeks. I really admire that about our group. It isn't easy to do, but our group has done a good job of keeping their heads up. I am really proud of that mentality, belief, and buy-in.
 
"Anyone who has been paying attention and watching our games, knows that too. We haven't even come close to accomplishing what we can do on the field. It is a really resilient group who wants to grow and show up every day.

"I'm proud of the way we won today, but honestly, more proud of the mentality and buy-in.
 
"We were only able to travel a small roster of 19 people, but this one win was the culmination of our entire group. It starts with the mindset of this team. They show up to training and there is a fire and a belief in their bellies. As a coach, you can't ask for more. I am so proud of that. It's not just the 19 that were here, it is everyone. They all create that culture."
 
The Warriors will take that culture back on the road on Saturday when they travel to California's Central Valley to take on the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific.