COLLEGE SOCCER / NAIA DISTRICT 3 CHAMPIONSHIP : Master’s Upsets Westmont Behind Lone Goal by Roath

Without the pressure of high expectations, The Master’s College made a goal by midfielder Justin Roath stand up in a 1-0 victory Saturday over host Westmont in the NAIA District 3 soccer championship.

The underdog Mustangs, who wrapped up their second consecutive District 3 title, advance to the NAIA tournament Nov. 25-30 in Boca Raton, Fla.

“We weren’t expected to win last week at Fresno, we weren’t expected to win against Westmont, and we won’t be expected to win out of the 12 teams in the national tournament,” said Jim Rickard, the coach of Master’s (12-9, 9-3 in district play).

“It’s a good position for us to be in because we are the ones playing without any pressure.”

And it was Roath, a junior from Ocala, Fla., who booted a fast roller past Warrior goalkeeper David Buehring at the 38-minute mark to put the pressure on top-seeded Westmont.

“They were playing Ezequiel (Bongarra) so tight and they left me open,” Roath said. “Ezequiel got the ball back over to me and I outran the guy in front of me and popped it in.”

Westmont (16-4-1, 9-2) looked to be the aggressor through the first 35 minutes, keeping the ball in Master’s end of the field and constantly pressuring Mustang goalkeeper Brian Crosson.

Rickard, in his first year at Master’s, was unruffled. “Our game plan was to let (Westmont) come and play in our end under a real tight defense for 20 minutes or so,” he said just before his Gatorade baptism. “I thought they’d press and get frustrated if they didn’t score and then we would start our offensive attack after that.”