For the final regular season game of the 2009 season, Westmont women’s soccer traveled to Costa Mesa to take on #6 Vanguard (11-1-4, 5-1-4 GSAC). The two teams struggled for 110 minutes, but the game ended in a time when neither team found a way to put the ball in the net.
The Warriors finished tied with Fresno Pacific for seventh place in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings and will be the eighth seed in next week’s GSAC Tournament. Westmont will match up with top-seeded and third-ranked Azusa Pacific (13-3, 9-1) on Tuesday in first round action. Westmont was the only conference team to defeat the Cougars in the regular season, winning in literally the last second of overtime on a goal by Jessica Zuehlsdorf.
“Today’s was one of the best games the team has played this season,” said Westmont Associate Head Coach Kristi Kiely. “To tie the number six team in the country is a great accomplishment, especially playing on their home field.”
Westmont goalkeeper Roxanne Love tallied eight saves in her fourth shutout of the year.
“Roxanne played well and had an All-American type save in the second overtime period that kept us in the game,” said Kiely.
“We played most of the game in the Vanguard’s defensive end of the field,” said Kiely. “Although they out shot us (19-5), our scoring opportunities were more dangerous than theirs. We would get the ball and hold possession for three minutes or more, passing it back and forth while looking to create a scoring opportunity. They would get the ball and shoot, even if they didn’t have a very good look.”
On of those dangerous opportunities for the Warriors came in the second half.
“Jenna Nelson, Aolani Rueff and Jessica Zuehlsdorf had a great combination play but just didn’t get the ball in the back of the net,” said Kiely.
In other conference action, #8 California Baptist (14-3-1, 7-3 GSAC) defeated #21 Concordia 4-1 to capture second place in the GSAC and the number two seed. California Baptist will take on seventh-seeded Fresno Pacific who fell to #17 Point Loma Nazarene earlier today by a 1-0 score.
Vanguard will be the third seed in the GSAC tournament and will host Concordia, the number six seed. Point Loma will serve as the number four seed and will host fifth-seeded The Master’s who tied Biola in a 1-1 game.
