Fourth-seeded Houghton of New York (20-1-1) proved to be a formidable opponent on Saturday at the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Tournament. But the Warriors were up to the challenge and handed the Highlanders their first loss of the season 3-2.

With the win, Westmont (12-3-3) advances to the semifinals on Monday to face top-seeded Martin Methodist (Tenn.) in a 6:00 p.m. CST game. The RedHawks defeated Concordia (Ore.) 2-0 to advance to the final four. Martin Methodist’s only loss of the season came at the hands of Houghton by a score of 1-0.

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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.

The NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship pairings have been released and twelfth seeded Westmont (10-3-3) will face #5 seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) in second round action on Friday. Both the Warriors and the Blue Raiders (16-4-1) received first round byes in the 20 team tournament which begins on Wednesday, November 16, in Olathe, Kansas.

The two teams have met three times before on national championship turf and every time the winner has brought home the national championship banner. In 2001, Westmont gained a 2-1 semifinal triumph on their way to Westmont’s third national title.

[NAIA Tournament pairings - PDF]

Three seniors and a junior from Westmont women’s soccer have been named as Golden State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes. In order to be eligible for the award, an athlete must be a junior or higher in standing, must have competed in half of the team’s contests and must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Seniors Katie Schick of Irvine and Katie Estrada of Fountain Valley each earned the recognition for the second year in a row. Schick is a liberal studies major with a 3.99 GPA and Estrada has earned a 3.86 GPA as a communication studies major. As a defender for the Warriors, Schick has started every game of her four year career. Estrada, who transferred to Westmont from The Master’s College following her freshman year, has provided valuable experience at the midfield position this season.

On Sunday, the Golden State Athletic Conference announced that junior midfielder Anna Gropp, sophomore back Heather Brown and freshman forward Amy Lawson have been named to the 2005 All-GSAC Women’s Soccer team.

Gropp, of Corona, California, recorded three goals and six assists this season for the Warriors (9-2-3, 5-2-3). “Due to teammates’ injuries, Anna has moved from her natural position as a forward,” said head coach Rebecca Mouw. “She has made a tremendous adjustment at midfield. Her ability to take people on, combined with her field savvy, give us opportunities going forward. As a playmaker, she has recorded six assists which leads the league in assists made during conference play.” Gropp has also scored three goals for the Warriors this season.

#12 Westmont Women’s Soccer (10-3-3) lost 2-1 to #10 Point Loma Nazarene (12-3-4) this afternoon in the semifinals of the NAIA Region II Tournament. The loss means that the Warriors hopes of winning the region and the automatic bid to the national tournament have come to an end.

However, the possibility of receiving one of six at-large invitations to the nationals is very much in play. Westmont must wait to see how the 13 NAIA regional tournaments across the nation pan out to know if a spot in the national tournament is made available to them. The last of the regionals conclude next Wednesday.

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#12 Westmont will host #10 Point Loma Nazarene in an NAIA Region II Tournament semifinal game on Friday at Russ Carr Field. Game time is 1:00 p.m. The Sea Lions, who are seeded fifth in the regional tournament, advanced to the second round by knocking of fourth seeded Menlo by a score of 2-1.

The Warriors’ opportunity to host the game came courtesy of Westmont’s 3-0 win over Vanguard on Tuesday and a 1-0 double overtime upset by seventh seeded California Baptist over #19 Biola. The Eagles, who were seeded second in the region, would have hosted the Warriors had they been victorious, but with Biola’s loss, the honor of hosting fell to the third seeded Warriors.

Westmont women’s soccer earned a second round regional playoff game this afternoon at Russ Carr Field by defeating Vanguard 3-0. The Warriors will play on Friday against an opponent and at a site to be determined by other regional games which are in progress.

The win avenges an earlier loss 0-1 loss to the Lions in Costa Mesa. “Our word of the game was revenge,” said junior forward Katie Rhodes. “It was a lot better this time because it was in the daylight and the field conditions were better.”

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