The two seniors from Westmont Women’s Soccer combined for three goals and two assists on Senior Day as the 13th-ranked Warriors (11-3-1, 7-1 GSAC) posted a 6-0 Golden State Athletic Conference win over San Diego Christian (5-9, 2-6 GSAC) on Saturday at Thorrington Field. Ashley Correa scored her eleventh and twelfth goals of the year to go with her eighth assist while Aolani Rueff recorded her ninth goal and tenth assist.
With the victory, Westmont has stretched its winning streak to seven games, during which time they have outscored their opponents 26-1. The Warriors also assured themselves a first round bye in the upcoming Golden State Athletic Conference tournament and a home game in the semifinals that will be held on Friday, November 2.
Before the start of today’s game, Rueff and Correa were honored for their many contributions to Westmont Women’s Soccer.
“Ashley has been an extremely valuable member of the women’s soccer team during her three years here,” said Westmont head coach Kristi Kiely in a statement read during Senior Day ceremonies.
Her impact has been tremendous as she has led the team in goals, assists and points for two seasons. She is an incredible player with a unique combination of power, finesse and a deep understanding of the game.”
Regarding Rueff, Kiely said, “Aolani is an extremely gifted individual and a very talented soccer player. She is ending her career at Westmont by playing some of the best soccer she has ever played and that has ever been played by an individual at Westmont.
“She has set a new standard for leadership with the combination of her humility and strength, her joy and intensity, her work rate and the demand she puts on the others to do the same.”
Westmont athletic director Dave Odell also had some reflections on the two seniors.
“In my almost four years as athletic director, I’ve found myself most sad about losing Aolani and Ashley,” said Odell. “Lani is just the epitome of everything that is right about Westmont and our mission. The girl that I interviewed in my office as a high school senior is now an extremely mature woman ready to tackle whatever life brings her way. The last few home games I’ve found myself getting closer to the action on the team side and enjoying hearing her lead both through her amazing work ethic and communication style. She brings a paradox of one part swagger and another part humility that gives so much confidence to her teammates. If I could take a bit of her DNA and inject it into every one of our athletes, I’d do it!
“There were times in Ashley’s three years here that I wondered if she’d make it to this (Senior Day) game,” continued Odell. “I’m not sure which point it was, but both her work ethic and character took giant leaps at the end of last year and this year. I’ll always remember Ashley as the game changing gunslinger with a hello and a smile that brightened my day on several occasions. I’ll also remember her as a program changer in many ways. At a time when our program needed a double digit goal scorer to be a linchpin in our resurgence, God brought us Ashley Correa!”
Once the game got under way, it didn’t take long for the Warriors to establish themselves on the pitch. In the seventh minute, sophomore Courtney Stonesifer slipped the ball to fellow sophomore Tiffany Dimaculangan who scored the game winner from the top of the box.
Nine minutes later, Correa took a corner kick and placed an untouched ball into the side netting of the goal to give Westmont a 2-0 lead.
In the 21st minute, Correa passed the ball from the center of the field to Rueff on the left wing. Rueff dribbled 15 yards and fired from five yards, advancing the score to 3-0.
Sophomore forward Christine Adams made it a 4-0 score before halftime, scoring in the forty-second minute of a cross from Kelsey Steck.
In the second half, Correa scored in the sixty-ninth minute when she drove the center of the field and shot from ten yards out. . Less than a minute later, Rueff found Stonesifer three yards from the goal to give Westmont a 6-0 advantage.
The Warrior defense continues to shine. Starting goalkeeper Lindsey Smith, a junior, recorded three saves before freshman Lauren Dorr entered the game in the fifty-ninth minute and notched two saves of her own. As a team, Westmont has eight shutouts, six of which have come in the last seven games.
