Box Score
Box Score
Kaci Mexico's golden goal in double-overtime sent Westmont College to a 1-0 victory over Cal State San Marcos in their 2011 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round match in San Marcos, CA.
Westmont improves to 13-6 on the season and advances to the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship in Decatur, Alabama. The 16-team field for that tournament will be set following today's opening round action.
#12-seed Cal State San Marcos ends its season with a 15-4-1 record.
With two defense-led teams that do not like conceding goals, borderline frigid conditions, and National Championship stakes, the match played out like one would expect. Neither team regularly committed big numbers to the attack, and the action took place largely in the midfield.
Host school Cal State San Marcos had a clear first half advantage, outshooting Westmont 9-2 in the game's first 45 minutes and monopolizing chances. CSUSM was clearly looking to play balls over the top for forward Shelby Bush to run under, and twice she appeared to be in on goal. The first was ruled offside, and the second she could not bring the ball under control before Westmont keeper Lindsey Smith smothered it.
But after halftime, the game took a decided turn. Westmont, known as a strong second half team throughout the season, took the game to San Marcos, winning every 50/50 ball and generally controlling the second half. The Warriors outshot CSUSM 10-3 in the match's second 45 minutes, with #3 Aolani Rueff and #11 Ashley Correa opening up the Cougars' defense and looking particularly dangerous in the attack throughout the half.
Tied 0-0, the game headed to overtime. Neither team generated a chance in the first 10 minutes, but Westmont took a clear advantage in the second frame. The game nearly ended in the 104th minute, and would have if not for an unbelievable save by two-time NAIA All-American keeper Kaycee Gunion, who went out with a flourish in what turned out to be her final game for CSUSM. Westmont's Sophie Judd would hit the crossbar on the rebound, and the follow-up shot by Correa was also stopped by Gunion.
But that only postponed the inevitable, as Westmont won a corner in the 108th minute. Correa hit a dangerous ball into the box, and Kaci Mexico got her head to it, beating Gunion and sending Westmont through to the second round.
For the game, Westmont held a 17-12 advantage in shots. CSUSM had 8 corner kicks to Westmont's 5, and committed 10 fouls to Westmont's 4.
