The 2020-21 Westmont Women’s Soccer season came to an end on Thorrington Field as the Warriors lost to Oregon Tech, 2-0.
The Hustlin’ Owls advance to take on Eastern Oregon on Saturday in the Opening Round championship game. The Mountaineers won Thursday’s first semifinal game with a 2-1 victory over La Sierra.
Oregon Tech scored its first goal in the 26th minute. Mehana Ortiz retrieved a ball near the right touchline and then fired from 45 yards out. Westmont’s goalkeeper Gabi Haw back-peddled from the top of the 18, then leaped and stretched in an attempt to prevent the ball’s advance. The ball glanced off her fingertips and continued toward the goal, landing two feet in front of the goal before bounding into the left side of the net.
“I thought that the energy that we brought in the beginning of the game wasn’t what we were hoping for,” acknowledged coach Jenny Jaggard. “I felt like there was a lot of playing from fear, not really trusting that we could play the Westmont way. Part of the playoff experience is learning to handle that pressure.”
Westmont had a near miss in the 55th minute when Kendall Ollenburger hit the crossbar from 25 yards out. Isabelle Berthoud retrieved the ball off the rebound and fired from four yards out, but the shot could not get past Oregon Tech goalkeeper Alyx Burkhartzymeyer, who has yet to allow a goal this season.
The Hustlin’ Owls put the game out of reach in the 85th minute on a breakaway. Kiah Wetzell received a pass on the left touchline near the midfield line. Wetzell, dribbled unabated, got past Haw, then kicked the ball into an empty net.
“Oregon Tech scouted us well and did the things they can do well and it ended up working for them,” said Jaggard. “It is just painful.”
The Owls have not allowed a goal in any of their last eight games.