ROCKLIN, Calif. – In a battle of the Warriors Saturday afternoon, more than just tournament seeding was on the line. With the possibility of hosting a playoff match still on the table, Jessup battled nearly 110-minutes with Westmont College before the golden goal sealed the match.
 
Westmont takes the season finale by the final of 2-1, clinching them the number one seed in the 2021 GSAC Tournament. With that one seed comes the right to play all of their postseason contests on home turf.
 
Head Coach David Nolan spoke after the match and said it was "A tough way to lose, but it was a game we really showed our growth as a program. Very proud of the ladies.
 
Westmont got on the board first in the 15th minute of play as Reese Davidson connected on a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Westmont remained on the attack for the remainder of the half, outshooting the Warriors 18-4.
 
Halftime adjustments were made during the 15-minute intermission, as it took just 90 seconds for the Warriors to even the score out of the break.
 
Freshman Kaylee Gillespie played a perfect ball across the field to senior Alhan Bakideh, setting up a run towards goal. Bakideh took her shot from 10 yards out, and it clanked the crossbar before coming down just inches over the goal line.
 
The score would remain deadlocked for the remainder of the half. But even with the match tied, the Warriors were still at a disadvantage, playing a player down after Sophia Patterson was issued a red card late in the half.
 
Neither side would score in the opening ten minutes of overtime, sending the match to a second extra period. It seemed that a draw was imminent until a free kick gave Westmont a chance at goal some 25 yards out, and Daisy Alvarez converted, secreting the win and the one seed.
 
Nolan spoke on the disadvantage, adding, "We faced adversity going down to ten, and the ladies' response was great. A very disciplined performance and a great fight."
 
Results around the GSAC have been confirmed, and the Warriors close out the regular season as the fifth-ranked team in the conference. With that, the Warriors will travel to Santa Clarita on Saturday to take on four-seed The Master's University. Game time is TBD.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).