A look at the stat sheet will tell you that it was a close game between #15 Simon Fraser (B.C.) and Westmont Men’s Soccer on Saturday afternoon at the Cougar Classic in Azusa. In every category, the difference is no more than one. Unfortunately for the Warriors, that includes the goal count as Westmont (1-1) fell to Simon Fraser (3-1) by a score of 1-0.
“We conceded a goal just at the end of the first half,” reported Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. “We were not able to level the score although we had some excellent opportunities to do it including a ball that went off the inside of the post. It came awful close to going over the line. We’re not sure if it did or not. I’m not going to claim that it did, but it was awful close.”
The Warriors posted 11 shots, five of which were on goal while The Clan tallied 12 shots, six on goal. Both keepers – Hide Ozawa for Simon Fraser and Matt McNab for Westmont – recorded five saves. Simon Fraser edged out the Warriors on corner kicks six to five but committed one more foul than the Warriors, 11 to 10.
“More than anything it was a game of missed chance for us,” said Wolf. “Certainly it was warm and conditions were challenging. But that was true for our opponents as well. They found a way to score and we did not.”
Simon Fraser’s goal came in the forty-third minute when Geoff Kosub found the back of the net from 20 yards out on the right side.
The Warriors will play again next Saturday when they host Hawaii-Hilo in a seven o’clock game at UCSB’s Harder Stadium.
