Typically, these two teams have been perennial GSAC championship contenders.
Annually, they show up in the NAIA Top 25 and make postseason appearances.
That's why Saturday's 1-0 win over the Warriors in Santa Barbara was such a sweet one for The Master's University head coach
Jim Rickard and his Mustangs.
"We do seem to get pumped for the top teams," said Rickard. "Today was no exception."
The win, following last Saturday's victory over No. 16 Menlo, vaulted The Master's (11-4 overall, 3-2 GSAC) into a second-place tie in conference play where it trails first-place Arizona Christian (4-0-1 GSAC) by four points with three regular season matches left.
If the Mustangs' response to playing Westmont was no exception, then the match's lone goal was truly exceptional.
It came in the match's 59th minute when
Leo Anjos found junior midfielder
Luis Garcia Sosa cutting in from the right side, delivered the pass and then watched as Garcia Sosa fired one past Westmont goalie Lalo Delgado.
It was Garcia Sosa's second goal in as many weeks and one that stood up the rest of the match.
That could be attributed to the defense, a unit lauded by Rickard following the game.
"Our team defense was really good today, shutting out a team that has many weapons," said the 28
th-year head coach.
Freshman keeper
Price Anderson recorded his second shutout of the campaign.
Now, the Mustangs return home from a three-game road trip and turn their attention to Hope International next Thursday for a 3 p.m. kick-off on Reese Field.
