Don’t expect the moniker “Westmont United” to be applied anytime soon, but changes in the coaching staff have provided an opportunity for a different approach to the school’s soccer programs. Dave Wolf, who has served as the men’s head coach since 1991, has been named the Director of Soccer and will serve this coming season as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s programs.

With responsibilities for both programs, Wolf intends to rely heavily on the efforts of his combined coaching staff.

“The word that comes to my mind immediately is collaboration,” said Wolf. “What the college has supported us in doing is putting together a soccer staff that will enable us to accomplish all of the different tasks that will be required. The working out of that plan will be very much a daily endeavor.”

Twelve student-athletes were honored on Thursday night at the Fourteenth Golden Eagle Award Dinner held at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. Referred to as the ‘best night of the year for Westmont Athletics,’ the event is sponsored by the Pacific Beverage Company and Pete and Gerd Jordano.

“It’s even better than our 28-point win over Azusa Pacific,” said associate athletic director and head women’s basketball coach Kirsten McKnight in welcoming the 125 attendees.

Westmont athletic director Dave Wolf served as master of ceremonies for the event and noted that the Westmont staff of head coaches tallied a combined 114 years of experience and that for seven of the coaches, their entire head coaching experience has been at Westmont.

On Thursday afternoon, Rebecca Mouw called a meeting of the Westmont Women’s Soccer team where she announced that she will not return for a fourth year as head coach.

“I feel really good about the consensus which (Athletic Director) Dave (Wolf) and I have come to,” said Mouw. “As I have been thinking about the past few months, I have been evaluating what I want to be doing with my life and where I want to be going. I feel at peace with the things that have come together to bring this decision to closure.”

Mouw took over the reigns of the women’s soccer program on July 1, 2005, posting an overall record of 35-16-7 in three years and taking the Warriors to two national tournaments.

In her first season, Mouw led the Warriors to a record of 12-3-4 and an appearance in the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament in Olathe, Kansas. In 2006, Mouw’s Warriors finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings with a record of 7-2-1 and claimed a national ranking of eleventh at season’s end. Westmont advanced to the quarterfinals of the national tournament where they were defeated 1-0 by Azusa Pacific.

Scottee Reid	Amy Lawson	Taylor Callan	Roxanne Love

Senior Scottee Reid of Fresno, juniors Taylor Callan of Portland, Oregon and Amy Lawson of Honolulu, and freshman Roxanne Love of Kentfield, have been honored with selection to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference team. The foursome helped lead the Warriors to a third place finish in the GSAC standings.

Westmont women’s soccer season came to an end on Wednesday as the Warriors suffered a 5-1 loss at #2 Azusa Pacific (15-1-1). The Warriors were out shot 29-5 in the contest and freshman goalkeeper Roxanne Love posted a new single game record with 13 saves.

“Azusa is obviously a very good team who has been successful all year,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw. “We gave up the first goal just before half which was a momentum downer for us. We came out and took more risks in the second half and we paid for it. I’m proud of how the players kept battling even though we were down 4-0. They were still battling and trying to get something for us and ended up with a goal.”

[stats]

After playing to a 1-1 double overtime tie with #17 California Baptist on Saturday at Russ Carr Field, the Warriors learned today that they will face #2 Azusa Pacific on Wednesday in the first round of the NAIA Region II Playoffs. Despite finishing third place the Golden State Athletic Conference, the Warriors were seeded at number eight in the post-season tournament due to their a system for ranking soccer teams now as Longo.

On Saturday, Westmont (9-6-2, 6-2-2) scored first against California Baptist (12-4-1, 7-2-1) when senior Heather Brown headed in a cross from junior Taylor Callan in the eighteenth minute. Brown’s goal came on the first on nine corner kick opportunities for the Warriors.

[stats]

The Golden State Athletic Conference has named Taylor Callan the Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week in recognition of her contributions to Westmont’s two wins last week. Callan, who hails from Portland, Oregon, scored two goals against Biola and one against San Diego Christian.

“Taylor has done a great job in the center of the pitch as a quarterback for our team,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw. “She gets our team forward as a unit and gets everybody involved. Taylor has been the glue that combines our offense and our defense together.”

Against Biola, Callan scored Westmont’s first two goals within an eight minute span to lead the Warriors to 3-1 victory. Her first goal came in the nineteenth minute of play off an assists from freshman Kayla Barkett. After receiving a pass from Barkett, Callan drove a ball from 35 yards out which knuckled down, skipped off the ground and passed through the keepers’ legs. In the twenty-seventh minute, Callan was attempting a corner kick into a stiff breeze. Aided by the wind, Callan’s kick curved directly into the net for an unassisted goal.

Freshman midfielder Brooke Johnson picked a very good time for her first collegiate goal - 19 seconds into overtime against San Diego Christian (4-8-1, 1-7-0). The golden goal gave #24 Westmont it’s sixth conference win and keeps the squad in a tie with #9 Concordia for second place in the Golden State Athletic Conference. California Baptist also won on Saturday, defeating The Master’s by a score of 4-1.

“It was a very sweet header,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw. “Candace Marques sent the ball from the right sideline to about the penalty spot and Brooke headed it in. Candace had a superb game tonight both offensively and defensively. She has stepped up her leadership abilities as a communicator which is remarkable for a freshman.”

[stats]