Westmont Women’s Soccer continued their road trip on Monday morning in Seaside, where Westmont battled CSU Monterey Bay in their fifth consecutive match away from home.

Coming off of their first loss of the season, Westmont’s defense was able to bounce back and shut out the Otters. On the offensive end, however, the Otters’ defense was able to hold the Warriors at bay as well.

At the end of 90 minutes, Westmont and Monterey Bay left the field with a 0-0 tie.

“We’re definitely tired,” Westmont head coach Jenny Jaggard said. “Still, we’ve been pretty resilient. We battled today, it was a bit of a tough field to play on, and another tough CCAA opponent. Pulling out a tie on the road is a pretty decent result.”

Westmont threatened in and around the box in the first handful of minutes on Monday, with the early attack leading to a shot off the foot of Amelia Villa.

The shot was never allowed to challenge the CSUMB net, however, as the ball was blocked by an Otter defender.

While the first few minutes suggested the Warriors would often penetrate Monterey Bay’s back line, nearly another 30 minutes would pass before Westmont would get another shot off.

Even then, when Ande Siegel and Amarys Machado had chances to fire, the Warriors were unable to tally a shot on goal.

In the 33rd minute, Westmont finally got their look at Otter keeper Aubrey McKessy.

When Westmont had a free kick 40 yards from the Monterey Bay net, the Warriors challenged the defense with an awkward in-between hop that ricocheted off a defender and bounced waist-high at the top of the box for Sierra Martin.

Martin was able to get on top of her shot and challenge McKessy with a one-hop attempt, but the Otter keeper was able to swat the ball away for her first save of the day.

Westmont would not have another scoring opportunity for the remainder of the first half.

On the other end of the pitch, Monterey Bay was given several opportunities around Westmont’s backline, with the Warriors surrendering a trio of free kicks and a pair of corner kicks in the final minutes of the period.

While under lots of pressure, Westmont’s defense was able to stand tall for the remainder of the half, with Maya Pablos having to come off her line to smother just one shot.

In the second half, both sides’ defenses made the first chunk of the period quiet, until the Otters had the day’s most dangerous attempt yet in the 64th minute.

Monterey Bay carried a ball to the edge of Westmont’s 18 on the far side of the pitch before a cross found its way to the foot of Tiger Rendon. With several Westmont defenders closing in, Rendon took one touch and fired a shot right that led Pablos to leave her feet.

Luckily for Westmont, Pablos took one step to her right before darting that way and blocking the shot for her third and most stressful save of the match up to that point.

Westmont’s first look on goal in the second half came minutes later when Shayna Stock fired from 25 yards out in the 69th minute.

While a ways from the goal, Stock’s shot appeared to catch McKessy on her heels, as the Otter keeper stumbled when she retreated back towards her line. Still, at the last second, McKessy was able to regain her balance before leaping up and snaring the shot.

Over the final 20 minutes of the contest each side provided one more shot on goal each, but both Pablos and McKessy, along with their defenses, ensured that both teams would leave the field with a stalemate.

At day’s end Westmont had 10 shots compared to Monterey Bay’s nine, but three on goal compared to the Otter’s four. In the end, defense was the story of the day as the Warriors headed home with a draw.

“We had moments we could’ve finished today, for sure,” Jaggard said. “It just wasn’t in the cards today. We need to keep working on that final third because right now, that’s where we’re lacking.

“After a crazy result last Thursday, I thought we came back from it well. Overall, I’m proud of their resilience and their bounce back. There are technical and tactical things that need to be adjusted, but we’re going to press forward while continuing to find ways to be successful.”

Westmont will have one last tune-up before their PacWest opener when they take on rival Azusa Pacific in a non-conference battle on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. on the Cougar’s campus.

On Saturday, September 30, Westmont will open their conference schedule in La Mirada where they’ll take on the Biola Eagles.