One year after losing to Lindsey Wilson in a second round game of the NAIA National Championship Tournament, the twelfth-seeded Warriors have returned the favor, knocking off last year’s national champions 2-0.

Freshman Amy Lawson scored both goals for the Warriors who advance to the quarterfinals tomorrow. Westmont will face fourth-seeded Houghton of New York (20-0-1) on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. (CST) as the tournament continues in Olathe, Kansas.

Westmont came out of the gates ready to play and took control of the game early. “Besides being against the wind and against the sun in the first half, I thought we had the better chances,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw.

After a scoreless first half, the Warriors struck off a corner kick less than two minutes after the intermission. “We told them at halftime that when we possess and get end line on this seam we’re going to be very successful,” said Mouw. “And that’s what happened. We got a corner kick by getting end line. Katie Schick did a great job getting the corner kick for us.”

Anna Gropp launched the ball from the right corner to a waiting Jane Wyche in front off the goal. Wyche headed the ball toward the net, but Blue Raider keeper Mia Moeller intercepted the shot. Moeller could not maintain control, however, babbling the ball in the air. Lawson found herself with an opportunity to score and headed in the ball to put Westmont on top 1-0.

Lawson added the second goal with 5:02 remaining in the game as the result of picking off a pass near midfield. Lawson dribbled the ball 40 yards down the field to score one-on-one with the keeper. “After I intercepted the ball I just tried to cut off my defender and put it in the net,” said an excited Lawson.

Also victorious in today’s second round play were sixth-seeded Simon Fraser (B.C.) over #11 William Jewell (Mo.) by a score of 2-0 and eighth seeded Concordia (Ore.) by a score of 1-0 over Madonna. In the game preceding Westmont’s #7 Lee (Tenn.) defeated St. Mary’s (Neb.) 5-4.

In other second round games yesterday top-seeded Martin Methodist (Tenn.) defeated 16th seed McKendry (Ill.) 2-0. Graceland (Iowa) the tournament’s second seed defeated #15 Bethel (Tenn.) and #3 Azusa Pacific defeated Indiana Wesleyan by a score of 3-0.