Master’s Meets With Disaster in Title Match at Westmont

All season long, the battle cry at The Master’s College had been, “We want Westmont. We want Westmont.”

Faint at the season’s start, the chant had built to a crescendo after the Mustangs’ National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District 3 semifinal soccer victory against Cal Lutheran on Tuesday.

According to Master’s Coach Mark Schubert and several players, top-ranked Westmont had avoided playing the 13th-ranked Mustangs during the regular season.

Master’s was granted its wish Saturday, but the results were far from satisfying as the Warriors whipped the Mustangs, 4-0, at Westmont for the NAIA District 3 title.

And Westmont (16-2-3) looked anything but intimidated in winning its second consecutive District 3 title and 16th since 1967.

The win moves the Warriors into the NAIA tournament, which will be held at the High Noon Soccer Complex in Las Cruces, N. M., Nov. 20-25.

Westmont outshot Master’s, 16-10, and made the Mustangs (16-5-3) pay for every one of their defensive mistakes.

The Mustangs’ first miscue came at the 10-minute, 7-second mark when Mark Wheeler fouled Patrick Persson inside the penalty area, setting up a penalty kick that the sophomore from Goteborg, Sweden, fired past goalie Allan Bowden.

Bowden, who had blocked three of four penalty shots against Cal Lutheran, incorrectly guessed that Persson would go to his right on the shot.

With 1:20 left in the first half, Persson was at it again, scoring his 11th goal on a corner kick from Mike Avery.

Master’s was forced to attack after intermission, and Westmont capitalized on the Mustangs’ aggressiveness.

Darin Fishman scored his 14th goal on an assist from Avery at the 74:13 mark, and Peter Bourland added his team-high 22nd 4:05 later on an assist from Fishman.

Bowden appeared to misplay Fishman’s goal as he initially charged the onrushing forward, then began to backpedal as Fishman headed the ball over him into the net.

“That’s the mark of a good team,” Westmont Coach Bob Fortosis said after being given a celebratory dunk in the school’s swimming pool. “The other team makes a mistake, and you make them pay for it.”

Although Master’s outshot Westmont, 7-6, in the first half, the Mustangs never really had a decent scoring opportunity.

“They’re a great team, and they played a great match,” Schubert said. “That’s the best I’ve ever seen Westmont play.”