In the August heat at Cal State Bakersfield, the Warriors went 1-1 in the Roadrunner Classic. In losing to a strong Cal State San Bernardino team 3-0 on Saturday, Westmont was without the services of its two senior captains Katie Cates (out with an injury) and Kristi Peich. “The team played young,” said Head Coach Dan Ribbens, “we missed our senior leadership.”

On Monday, the Warriors faced the host Roadrunners with Peich back in the lineup and recorded a 3-1 victory. Fifty-eight seconds into the game, sophomore Anna Gropp stole a throw in on the Roadrunners end of the field and launched a curling ball from 30 yards away which slipped between the cross bar and the keeper.

[San Bernardino stats] [Bakersfield stats]

The Heritage Club Classic concluded today with wins by Azusa Pacific University and Westmont College.

In the first game, the Cougars of APU shutout Cornerstone (MI) 3-0. Kolt Callaway scored in the eighth minute of play on an unassisted goal from 17 yards out on the right side. He would score again in the 80th minute after dribbling from right to left across the front of the net, beating his defender and pushing a shot past the Golden Eagles’ keeper. In between those goals, Ian Leibbrandt connected on a pass from Richie Craven after a corner kick by Ferguson Agwu. The Cougars improved to 2-0 on the year while Cornerstone falls to 0-2-1.

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For the third year in a row, the Westmont Women’s Soccer team has been ranked number one in the NAIA pre-season poll. The Warriors, who received 11 of 13 first place votes, have won the national championship in four of the last five years, including the last three.

Lindsey Wilson College (KY), whom Westmont defeated in the seventh overtime period of the 2003 NAIA Championship final, is ranked number two, receiving one first place vote. WIlliam Jewell College (MO), Westmont’s semifinal opponent in the 2003 Tournament, also received a first place vote and is ranked number three.

Two GSAC men’s soccer programs got off on the right foot by winning their season openers at the Heritage Club Classic at Westmont College. In the first game, Azusa Pacific defeated Holy Names University of Oakland 3-1 while in the late game the Warriors of Westmont (1-0) shutout Cornerstone University of Grand Rapid, Michigan 2-0.

The Cougars (1-0) struck first during the 33rd minute when Kris Van Houten landed a 22-yard kick in the back of the net to provide the only scoring in the first half. Two minutes into the second half, the Hawks’ Guilherme Souza, a native of Londrina, Brazil, kicked in a deflection off of an Azusa Pacific player to tie the score at one.

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In order to pursue academic research, Dr. Gregg Afman will take a one year leave of absence from his duties as head coach of the women’s basketball team. Afman, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology, will be on sabbatical leave during the second semester of this year, his first in 23 years of teaching. Afman will be joining the research team of Dr. Clyde Williams of Loughborogh University for an opportunity he describes as, “too good to pass up.”

“Loughborogh is the premier sports science university in the United Kingdom,” stated Afman. “Dr. Williams is highly respected for his research in nutrition and exercise which primarily focuses on metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.”