To put it simply, the Warriors of Westmont have an enviable men’s soccer tradition. With 543 wins since the program’s inception in 1965, the Warriors have tallied move victories than any other NAIA team. Westmont has produced 41 NAIA All-Americans, made 16 trips to the NAIA National Tournament and claimed one national title.

One reason for the success has been stability at the head coaching position. In 42 years, the Warriors have had only four head coaches, all of whom have a winning percentage of at least .625. Dave Wolf has guided the Warriors for the last 16 years, posting a record of 222-77-34 (.718).

On the other hand, the very nature of college athletics means that rosters will not be stable. Each season means shaping a new team, adding new players, rebuilding team dynamics, refocusing expectations, learning new roles. Some seasons are easier than other because only a handful of students graduate the previous year. That is not the case for the 2007 edition of Westmont Men’s Soccer.

When Westmont men’s soccer takes the field next month for the beginning of the 2007 season, there will be nearly twice as many new faces as old wearing Warrior uniforms. Head coach Dave Wolf and assistant coach Ryan “RJ” Jorden have worked tirelessly to bring in 15 new players to add to eight returnees.

“Having 15 new players hasn’t happened during my time at Westmont,” said Wolf. “This will be a real growth opportunity for us (as coaches) as well as for the team. It is a massive challenge. Under normal circumstances you would say this is a rebuilding year. But we don’t feel like these are normal circumstances because of the history and success of our program. Expectations of going to the national championship don’t change just because you have 15 new players.”

Senior goalkeeper Logan Frank and junior forward Johnny Alcaraz have been named to the NAIA All-Region II teams as a result of their contributions to Westmont men’s soccer. Frank, who hails from Murrieta, California, and Alcaraz, who is from Santa Barbara, also received NAIA All-American honorable mention recognition.

Frank started all 20 games in goal for the Warriors producing 109 saves and seven shutouts. On September 19, Frank set a Westmont single game record by recording 17 saves against Notre Dame de Namur.

“I thought Logan was the best goalkeeper in both the conference and the region,” said head coach Dave Wolf. “He was voted our team’s most valuable player. It is only the second time since 1983 that a goalkeeper has received that award. Logan is the latest in succession of a long line of great Westmont goalkeepers. A four-year starter, he is very deserving of the honor.”

It was a battle from beginning to end, but in the end, #10 Azusa Pacific (14-3-2) defeated #24 Westmont men’s soccer by a score of 1-0 in today’s NAIA Region II semifinal match up. The loss concludes the Warriors’ 2006 campaign.

The game’s only goal was scored in the sixty-first minute when Dustin McBride recovered a loose ball in front of the goal and put it in the net near the far post.

“The guys gave everything they had to give,” said head coach Dave Wolf after the game. “We’ve been on the bus six of the last nine days, which takes its toll, but the team maxed it out today. APU is an excellent team and we know it is always hard to come here and play. But we gave up only one goal to them in more than three hours of play this season.”

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Michael Thompson scored twice as #24 Westmont Men’s Soccer (11-5-3) defeated the Hawks of Holy Names (8-4-1) at Cal State East Bay by a score of 2-0 in the first round of the NAIA Region II Tournament. With the win, fifth-seeded Westmont advances to Saturday’s semifinals in which they will play the top seed, #10 Azusa Pacific (13-3-2). Kick off is scheduled for one o’clock in Azusa.

“It’s great for the program to win a playoff game,” said head coach Dave Wolf, “great for the seniors who haven’t been in a playoff game and for the young guys to get a taste of what it is like.”

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After finishing tied for fifth in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings, the Westmont men’s soccer team (10-5-3, 4-3-3) received the fifth seed in the upcoming NAIA Region II Championships and will head north to take on Holy Names (7-3-1, 6-0-0) on Wednesday. The location and time of the game will be announced at a later date. Holy Names, out of the California Pacific Conference, is the only non-GSAC representative in the tournament.

#11 Azusa Pacific (12-3-2, 7-2-1) received the top seed despite finishing third in the GSAC standings. The Cougars will host eighth seeded Point Loma Nazarene which finished with an identical record to the Warriors. The second seed went to GSAC Champion and fourth ranked Concordia (13-4-0, 8-2-0) which will host seventh seeded Biola (9-5-1, 5-4-1).

Despite a 3-0 loss to Point Loma Nazarene (10-5-3, 4-3-3) this afternoon in San Diego, Westmont men’s soccer (10-5-3, 4-3-3) is headed to the NAIA Region II Playoffs next week. The Warriors finished tied with Point Loma for fifth place in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Six or seven teams are expected to qualify from the GSAC for the regional championship.

The Warriors’ bid to post-season play was made certain by a 1-0, double overtime loss of #22 Fresno Pacific (10-4-3, 4-4-2) to #4 Concordia (13-4-0, 8-2-0). Fresno Pacific and California Baptist (5-10-2, 4-4-2) end the season tied for seventh place. With the win, Concordia claimed the GSAC Championship.

Senior goalkeeper Logan Frank recorded six saves while Blake Thompson and Johnny Alcaraz scored goals to give Westmont men’s soccer a 2-0 win over Hope International (3-12, 2-7) at Russ Carr Field. Frank, who is the current NAIA Men’s Soccer Player of the Week, surpassed Butch Grosvenor (1984-87) on the Westmont career save’s list to move into second place with a total of 285 career saves.

The Warriors’ first goal came in the sixty-fourth minute of play as the result of a pass from Alcaraz to Thompson. Alcaraz took the ball at midfield and lobbed it over the heads of the defenders and into the path of Thompson who was streaking toward the goal.

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