Mustangs wrap up No. 3 seed with win over Ottawa

The Master's University women's soccer team could not win a Golden State Athletic Conference championship on Saturday at Reese Field. 

But, the Mustangs did have an opportunity to clinch the conference tournament's No. 3 seed and finish the regular season on a high note. They succeeded in both regards. 

The Mustangs scored the match's first three goals and then held on to beat Ottawa University Arizona, 3-2, on senior day, setting up a GSAC quarterfinal at TMU on Nov. 9 between Master's and sixth seed Menlo College. 
  
Kyndel Borman, the club's leader in goals, initiated the scoring in the 24th minute when she took a pass from Laura English and put it past Spirit goalie Krysten Caballero for a 1-0 lead.
 
Just over 13 minutes later, Borman struck again, taking a pass from Kayla Sims and putting it between the pipes for her 12th goal of the campaign.  
 
"It's been crazy," Borman said. "Coach gave me a goal of 12-15 goals in my exit interview last year, and I wasn't sure how I was going to get there.  This season hasn't been easy, but I think knowing that my team has confidence in me has really helped."
 
The sophomore forward got some help early in the second half when senior Kayla Peterson celebrated her final regular-season game on Reese Field with her sixth goal of the season.
 
The three-goal lead would be enough, but barely.
 
After allowing just two shots on goal in the first half while shutting out the Spirit, the Mustangs felt pressure from Ottawa over the final 45 minutes.
 
Ottawa's Keana Barrow sliced the deficit to 3-1 at the 56:43 mark when she beat Mustang keeper Lacey Lehman.
 
Then in the 80th minute, the Spirit drew within one as Saipress Jones scored.
 
That's where the threat ended, though, as the Mustangs prevented Ottawa from getting off another shot on goal.
 
The Mustangs wound up with a 10-6 advantage in shots on goal.
 
Now, the Mustangs have a week to prepare for a Menlo team that it beat 2-1 on October 12.