Westmont women’s soccer earned a 1-0 victory over Biola on Wednesday afternoon at Lovik Field. Freshman forward Aolani Rueff scored her seventh goal of the season in the 68th minute to continue averaging one goal per game. It was her third game winner of the year.
The first half was played mostly in the midfield with each team getting only a few chances to score.
With 2:45 remaining in the first half, Shanae Coker had a breakaway opportunity on the left hand side, but her shot was successfully deflected by Erin Frushon, Biola’s keeper.
“In the first half we possessed,” said associate head coach Kristi Kiely, “but that is kind of all we did. We had almost equal chances and they almost had a better chance than we did. If we can’t get forward, we can’t score goals and we can’t win games. In the second half, the team applied that idea immediately and was able to capitalize later in the game.”
“I think we came out with some intensity in the second half,” said Britney Scannell. “We started stringing some passes together and getting some sequences offensively in the final third.”
Scannell had started the game as a defender but was moved to the midfield for the second half.
“We trust Nicole Yankey in the back,” said Associate Head Coach Kristi Kiely about changing Scannell’s position. “Nicole has shown to do well in her freshman year. If we can get Brit’ attacking intensity closer to goal, then we have more success.”
Five minutes into the second half, Jameisha Washington took a corner kick from the right-hand side. The ball found Amanda Barret who passed it back across the goal. After Biola attempted to clear the ball, Candace Marquis launched a shot that went right and high of the goal.
Biola nearly scored a few seconds later when Megan Gularte shot from left of the goal and pushed the ball past the keeper. But Westmont’s Kayla Barkett, who was standing near the far post, was able to clear the shot and prevent it from entering the goal.
With 24 minutes remaining in regulation, Nicole Yankey served the ball from the right hand side. Before the ball hit the ground, Jameisha Washington passed it back across the goal to Melanie Greene, but Greene’s shot went wide right.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Scannell forwarded a pass down the right sideline. Jessica Zuehlsdorf beat a defender and took a shot from the right corner. Biola defender Amy Atkinson attempted to clear the ball but headed it back into the field of play toward Rueff who was racing for the goal. Rueff, now one-on-one with the keeper, put the ball in the right-hand corner of the net to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
“Aolani and Jess did well today,” said Kiely. “Jess had a fantastic game. The ability to use her either on the side or up top is fantastic. She brought an intensity to the front line that, match with Aolani’s, was fantastic today.”
Four minutes later, Rueff nearly scored again. Scannell crossed the ball into the box from the left sideline. Rueff elevated and nearly scored on a header, but Frushon was able to prevent the score.
“Our center mids, both Mel (Greene) and Amanda (Barret), were playing some really good wide balls to me while I was playing midfield,” said Scannell.
Westmont will return to action on Saturday when they take on #17 Concordia as part of a men’s and women’s doubleheader at La Playa Stadium on the campus of Santa Barbara City College. The men are scheduled to kickoff at 4:30 p.m. with the women following at 7:00.
