By: Hope Hensley
September 11, 2026
DENVER, Colo.— The Westmont Warriors women's soccer team fought Fort Lewis to a 0–0 draw on Friday afternoon at The Assembly Athletic Complex. Westmont showcased sharp combination play and a relentless attack on set pieces, resulting in its third draw of the non-conference slate.
Match Summary
Both sides spent the opening half probing for gaps, but Westmont established momentum early with a strong build-up through the midfield. Madeline Steinbach forced Skyhawks goalkeeper Trinity Lujan into an early save in the fifth minute to highlight Westmont's first-half attack.
The Warriors elevated their tactical pressure in the second frame, earning six of their eight total corner kicks in the final 16 minutes of play. Defender Vanessa Alcala and midfielder Mae Blazer each tested Lujan with shots on frame down the stretch.
Westmont's defensive line—anchored by center backs Madison Ford and Daniella Coyle alongside fullbacks Estella Bacsafra, Alcala, and Ainsley Martin—kept Fort Lewis quiet in transition. Goalkeeper Ellie Ludwig registered five total saves, including a crucial point-blank stop in the second half to secure the road clean sheet.
Key Stats: Westmont held an 8–7 shot advantage over 90 minutes and earned an 8–0 differential in corner kicks. Ludwig collected five saves to record the shutout for the Warriors, while Lujan logged three saves for Fort Lewis.
Head Coach Lauren Matthias' Post-Match Comments:
- On Tactical Execution & Elevation: "We executed our game plan really well, which our staff was happy about. Coming off a travel day and playing at elevation, we really liked the pace we played at. A big goal after last game was generating more corner kicks and dangerous opportunities, and we were able to do that very well against a tough road opponent."
• On Midfield & Backline Connections: "Fort Lewis forced us to move the ball quickly into good pockets. Ellie Gilbert sat in some great pockets at the 10, driving the ball and staying dangerous. Our outside backs—Stella [Bacsafra], Vanessa [Alcala], and Ainsley [Martin]—joined the attack to combine with our wingers, which is a key relationship we're building. Our center backs, Matt [Madison] Ford and Danny [Daniella] Coyle, along with Ellie [Ludwig] in net, were fantastic. Ellie had a key point-blank save in the second half to keep the clean sheet.
- On Attacking Presence & Squad Depth: "Madeline [Steinbach] played high minutes for us up top, and CC [Ciara Caringal] did a great job holding the ball at the nine. Hannah [Hayes] had good minutes at the nine as well, along with all our wingers who rotated in—Skyler [McNamara], Giselle [Cancino], Christina [Cooper], and Aubrie [Ambrozic]. Sydney Reese held it down defensively in the midfield alongside Ruby [Stimer]. Every single sub gave us exactly what we asked of them."
• On Moving Forward: "We're inching closer and closer to finding the back of the net, and this was a really good step forward for our group. We'll have a recovery day and then look to get after it on Sunday against another quality opponent in Metropolitan State University of Denver."
Looking Ahead
Westmont (0–3–3) wraps up its Colorado road trip on Sunday, September 13, taking on MSU Denver.
