Warriors Secure Playoff Plans

The No. 3 Westmont women’s soccer team captured a first-round bye and a semi-final match at home in the upcoming Golden State Athletic Conference Championship. The Warriors (14-0-3, 8-0-2 GSAC) open the tournament at Thorrington Field on Friday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. against either Biola, Vanguard, San Diego Christian or the Master’s. The Warriors secured the number-two seed in the tournament by beating No. 10 Vanguard (14-3, 7-3) 1-0 on Nov. 2.

No. 8 Concordia (14-0-3, 9-0-1 GSAC) edged out Westmont to claim its first GSAC Championship in program history. Westmont, which had two ties, tied Concordia 0-0 after two scoreless overtime periods on Oct. 15 at Westmont. In that match, Concordia tallied 17 shots to Westmont’s 10, though each team had five shots on goal.

The Westmont women are enjoying one of their finest seasons since 2003 when former head coach Mike Giuliano led the Warriors to their third straight national championship. This year’s squad features strong performances by sophomore forward Kelsey Steck (7 goals) of Valencia and senior midfielder Alison Hensley (5 goals) of Huntington Beach. Goalie Lindsey Smith, a senior from Pleasanton, has been nearly perfect, facing more than 100 shots and allowing just six goals.

Westmont is expected to host an opening round game in the NAIA National Tournament that begins Saturday, Nov. 23. The nation’s top 16 teams then travel to Orange Beach, Ala., for a single-elimination tournament Dec. 2-7.

Westmont men’s soccer (10-6, 6-4 GSAC) landed the fourth spot for the upcoming GSAC postseason tournament and will battle Vanguard on Wednesday, Nov.6, at 2 p.m. at Thorrington Field. The Warriors have defeated the Lions twice this season.

The No. 14 Westmont women’s volleyball team (19-6, 5-5 GSAC) ends its regular season with two home games, Tuesday, Nov. 12, against Vanguard and Saturday, Nov. 16, against Hope International, both at 7 p.m. The women jumped out to their best start in Warrior history, winning their first 12 games. In 2002, the Warriors won their first eight games, finishing in the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals.

The national volleyball tournament begins Nov. 23. Eventually, a field of 36 teams will make their way to Sioux City, Iowa, Dec. 3-7.

Junior Madison Serrano has led the Warriors’ attack. She has 280 kills, and senior Ciara Turner has 198 kills.