Women Keep National Title Hopes Alive

Sophomore Haley Parzonko scored two minutes and four seconds into overtime Nov. 19, sending the No. 10 Westmont Women’s soccer team to Alabama to continue its title quest in the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Tournament. The Warriors eliminated Carroll College of Montana 2-1 at Thorrington Field. Five-foot-10 Renee Gonsalves soared high above the Saint’s defenders to head the Warriors first goal off a corner kick by Parzonko.

Westmont (16-3-2) advances to the round of sixteen held at the NAIA Tournament Final Site in Orange Beach, Ala., to battle No. 6 Northwestern Ohio (18-1-3) on Nov. 29.

Meanwhile, the No. 1 Westmont women’s volleyball team enters postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the NAIA National Championship. Having received an opening round bye, the Warriors will begin play on Nov. 29 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa with three days of pool play. The Warriors pool includes No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan (34-2), No. 17 Columbia (26-11) and Indiana University Kokomo (27-7). This is a 32-team pool play tournament with the top two teams from each pool advancing to single elimination championship play.

Several Warriors were named to the Westmont Volleyball All-Golden State Athletic Conference team, including head coach Patti Cook, GSAC Coach of the Year, and Ruth McGolpin, GSAC Assistant Coach of the Year. Libby Dahlberg, a sophomore middle blocker, was honored as the GSAC Player of the Year while Kami Troesh, a senior from Newport Beach, was recognized as the GSAC Libero of the Year. Cassidy Rea, a right-side hitter from Ventura, was named the GSAC Freshman of the Year. The All-GSAC Team includes junior outside hitter Taylor Beckman of Lake Oswego, Ore.; junior middle blocker Mila Maricic of Harbor City; senior outside hitter Jessica McCann of Lemoore; Dahlberg who is a sophomore middle blocker from Sacramento and Troesh, a senior libero from Newport Beach.