The Graceland Yellowjackets (Iowa) pulled off a 2-0 upset over #13 Westmont Men’s Soccer at Russ Carr Field on Thursday afternoon. Graceland scored one goal in each half to claim the win.

Graceland (3-1) took nine shots while the Warriors got off eight shots during the contest. However, of Gracelands’ nine attempts, seven were on goal whereas the Warriors had only two shots on target. Westmont goalkeeper Logan Frank notched five saves in the game.

[stats]

Two days after tying the game in the final three minutes of regulation at Claremont, #11 Westmont men’s soccer (3-1) found the shoe on the other foot against #21 Redlands who scored a goal in the final five seconds to earn a 2-1 win over the Warriors.

“It was a tough way to lose,” acknowledged head coach Dave Wolf. “I’m sure that today we feel about like Claremont felt on Thursday night.”

[stats]

Eleventh ranked Westmont men’s soccer (3-0) brought disappointment to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (0-2) on Thursday night with a come-from-behind 2-1 overtime victory.

“We were probably the second best team on the field for 75 minutes tonight,” acknowledged head coach Dave Wolf. “But I have to give credit to our guys for fighting and not giving up.”

[stats]

Westmont men’s and women’s soccer teams find themselves listed in the first regular season NAIA rankings for the 2006 season. The women’s team (3-0) retained its number three status with victories over #13 Simon Frasier of British Columbia (previously #4) and #6 Concordia (Ore.), as well as Oklahoma Baptist.

Martin Methodist (Tenn.) remains at number one in the women’s ratings with Lee (Tenn.) at number two.

Forward Johnny Alcaraz of Westmont was named the Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week today for his contributions to the Warriors’ wins over two top-ten teams on Friday and Saturday.

Despite being double teamed most of the game against #7 Oklahoma Baptist, Alcaraz recorded both a goal and an assist in the Warriors’ season opener. The assist came when Alcaraz connected with senior Michael German.

“Johnny got a free kick around the right-hand side,” said German. “We stacked the run on the left side of the box. I made a darting run to the front post and Johnny played a perfect ball right into my head. I threw my body at the ball and dove. It hit off my head and went straight in.”

Westmont and Azusa Pacific men’s soccer programs each claimed their second win in as many days in the final day of the Westmont Heritage Club Classic. The Cougars, ranked second in the NAIA, dispatched #7 Oklahoma Baptist (1-2) by a score of 4-2 while the Warriors (2-0) shutdown #6 Hastings (Neb.) 2-0.

Freshman midfielder Shawn Grieco gave the Warriors a 1-0 advantage just past the twelve minute mark. A shot by junior forward Johnny Alcaraz was deflected high into the air by Chris Ladwig, the Bronco’s goalkeeper. But Grieco was able to control the ball and put it in the net for the score.

[APU-OBU stats] [WC-HC stats]

The ninth edition of Westmont’s Heritage Club Classic got underway today at Russ Carr Field with three men’s soccer teams rated in the NAIA top ten, and the host Westmont Warriors. In the first of two games today, #2 Azusa Pacific strolled to a 4-0 lead against #6 Hastings (Neb.) – the same score by which the Cougars (1-0) eliminated the Broncos in the 2005 NAIA Championship semifinals last November. The Broncos fall to 0-3 in the 2006 campaign.

The second game saw Westmont score three times in the second half to knock off #7 Oklahoma Baptist (1-1) by a score of 3-1. The Oklahoma Baptist Bison were also national championship participants in 2005, losing 2-1 to Lindenwood (Mo.) in the sweet sixteen.

[APU-HC stats] [WC-OBU stats]

A lean and trim squad will be featured in the 2006 edition of Westmont men’s soccer. Not that the individual players are small, but the roster will feature only 17 names.

“It certainly is not ideal,” said head coach Dave Wolf. “We are three to five players short of where we would like to be. We lost eleven players from last year’s team, nine to graduation. That is a big turn around.