COSTA MESA – The Westmont Warriors rode a three-goal first half to victory today, knocking off third-seeded Vanguard University in the first round of the GSAC Postseason Tournament.
Holding on for the 3-2 win, the sixth-seeded Warriors will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round while the Lions will end the season on back-to-back losses.
Registering a 2-1 overtime win at Westmont on September 27th, the No. 20 Lions welcomed their first-round draw with the Warriors. However, the visitors came out ready to play and jumped into the lead just 7:25 after the opening kickoff.
A Westmont throw in was deflected by the Lions but collected by Warrior Anthony Niboli.
Niboli scored from the top of the penalty box to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead over the hosts.
Nine minutes later, the Warriors struck again as Saul Moreno crossed the ball from the left side to Jonathon Schoff.
Schoff headed the ball inside the near post for a 2-0 Warrior advantage with 28:29 left in the first half.
Westmont’s final goal came in the 35th minute of play on an unassisted goal by Hugo Pizano. Pizano shot from about 20 yards out, beating VU goalkeeper Trevor Herrera for the third goal of the game.
Being out-shot 4-1 in the first half, the Lions came out firing in the second period.
A handball in the box set the stage for Vanguard’s first goal with Tom Culver taking the penalty kick. Culver converted against Warrior keeper Justin Etherton to cut Westmont’s lead to 3-1 with 30:59 left in the game.
The Lions, who out-shot the Warriors 7-1 in the second half, continued to attack the Warriors’ goal and were eventually awarded another penalty kick after a Warrior foul inside the box in the 68th minute of play. Culver took the shot again, beating Etherton to bring the Lions within one goal, 3-2.
Etherton registered a couple of saves in the last 15 minutes of the game to conserve Westmont’s one-goal lead and time began to run out on Vanguard’s season. VU’s final shot came with just under two minutes to play but it sailed wide. Herrera abandoned the goal in the final minute of play as desperation set in for the Lions, but Vanguard could not score and the Warriors held on for the 3-2 win.
Westmont, now 8-6-2 overall, will move on to play No. 2 seeded Concordia on Saturday.
The 20th-ranked Lions end the season 9-6-2 overall after coming within a goal of the conference championship. Vanguard finished the regular season in third place with a GSAC record of 7-2-1.
