Westmont’s Kaci Mexico takes her final touch before scoring for Westmont.
The chance to get back at the team that kept them from winning a national championship last season was in Westmont’s hands on Friday. But Concordia, still No. 1 in the NAIA, was able to deflect the Warriors again in a 2-1 decision at Thorrington Field.
“We weathered the early storm,” said Concordia head coach Grant Landy. “We knew that Westmont was going to come out and have a lot of emotion based on last year’s game. I’m sure they circled (this) game on their calendar. So we knew they were going to come out and get after us, and they really played great in the first half.”
Brooke Lillywhite leaps into Kaci Mexico’s arms after Mexico scored the equalizer in the second half.
In the NAIA Game of the Week, the Warriors won the possession battle and created plenty of scoring opportunities, including 13 corner kicks. Their only goal came in the second half when Kaci Mexico received a pass in space from Brooke Lillywhite and beat Concordia keeper Nicole Franklin to the far post.
“I think the unfortunate thing is that I think they were great 99 percent of the game, and that one percent accounted for some mistakes in the back and missed opportunities,” said Westmont head coach Kristi Kiely. “I mean, how do you have 13 corners and not finish one of them.”
Concordia scored its first goal in the 21st minute of the first half on a long free kick by Shannon McMahon that was taken near midfield. The booming kick went high in the air before coming down just below the crossbar.
“Wasn’t really meaning to score,” McMahon said. “I sent (my) first free kick wide and was trying to get the fans out of my head and just said ‘get it on the frame of the goal, someone’s going to finish it from this far out.’ I thought it was going out but I guess it dropped right at the right time.”
After Mexico tied the game for Westmont in the 59th minute, Concordia’s Alicia Kolter stole the ball in Westmont’s defensive third and converted the game winner in the 73rd minute on a breakaway.
It was the first time this season that Westmont (5-1) has given up more than a one goal.
“They were fantastic today aside from finishing and two mistakes. But good teams are going to punish you for that and that’s what a good team does and Concordia is a good team,” Kiely said.
Westmont almost tied the game at 1-1 just before halftime but Kelsey Steck had a goal erased in the because of an offsides whistle. Steck put her hands on her head in disbelief after her celebration was cut short.
“Going into it it was already a very emotional game because we dedicated this game for Jane Higa, who passed away last Friday,” Steck said. “So obviously that already added a lot of emotion to it and we were playing for such a bigger purpose than just the win.”
Higa was a Westmont College administrator who had been battling ALS and was close to the team. The large crowd in attendance shared a moment of silence before the game.
The Warriors’ next game is their GSAC opener. It’s scheduled for next Saturday against William Jessup.
Westmont’s Tiffany Dimaculangan and Concordia’s Annika Hayman on Friday. Dimaculangan covered lots of ground in her full 90 minutes.
