November 15, 2023

WU Claims the 2023 Cal Pac Championship

Video Box Score
By Francisco Claudio
 
The expectations were always going to be high for the Westcliff men's soccer program, but that's why they brought in head coach Randy Dodge to take the lead.
 
Dodge is a soccer coaching legend well-known in Southern California and his mission was to get these Warriors over the hump and achieve what hadn't been done before.
 
When we look back at the coaching staff and roster of this team, it shouldn't surprise us that they lived up to everyone's expectations and became the 2023 Cal Pac Champions after defeating the UC Merced Bobcats, 4-2.
 
It was a dream start to the regular season as the Warriors swept Life Pacific 8-0.
 
Normally, you don't see those high numbers in a game of soccer, but this year Westcliff made that a norm.
 
They also took down a powerhouse D1 school in UCSD, 2-1. This was an important moment for the team especially coach Dodge who could sense something special brewing.
 
"Winning at UCSD answered a lot of questions I had about individuals and the overall group," Dodge said. "You see your mental resolve when your back is against the wall and to see them respond for one another the way they did I knew we could do some damage."
 
They went on to win six in a row before the Warriors met the Bobcats in the regular season and were given their only loss, 4-2.
 
Westcliff went on to win their next nine games in a row to close out the regular season and earned the Cal Pac Regular Season title.
 
There were many records broken such as most goals scored in the program's history, most shut-out wins, most consecutive wins, etc.
 
The team was firing on all cylinders and never got complacent with the number of goals they scored or who they played.
 
Next, the Warriors faced Park-Gilbert in the semifinals and took care of business, 2-1.
 
This set up the perfect game for anyone who loves competition and wants to see the best match-up possible.
 
The Warriors would face UC Merced in the championship match, winner would be crowned on that day.
 
To go up against the very team who gave you your only loss of the season, 'I say bring it on.'
 
UC Merced struck first and was up 1-0 after an early penalty four minutes into the start of the game.
 
But the Warriors took no time in responding with their own less than a minute later as Jordan Di Lonardo shot passed the goalkeeper with an assist by John Adekunle.
 
In the 29th minute, Quentin Hornung decided to join the party and scored an unassisted goal to put Westcliff up 2-1.
 
Then to start the second half, in the 50th minute, Hornung became the passer and set up Adekunle for the Warriors' third goal.
 
Things were looking good with a two-goal advantage and the time ticking away.
 
The Bobcats responded with their second goal in the 70th minute, but they were still down by one.
 
Everyone could feel that there was one more goal left in this game, but who would step up to take that shot?
 
Well, none other than Wissem Obeid, who scored in the 80th minute to put the Warriors up 4-2.
 
Hornung, Obeid, Adekunle, and Di Lonardo scored or assisted on at least one goal in the game seemed only fitting. 
 
The four players who led the way in many categories of this Cal Pac season had come through again when the team needed it the most. 
 
And fitting that it would come against the team who gave the Warriors their only loss of the season.
 
Congrats Warriors, you are the 2023 Cal Pac Champions.
 
"It was a sense of relief for completing a huge goal of mine to win the tournament," Dodge said. "It shows that our league consistency was no flick. "To also get the only team we lost to this year in the final just made it even better."
 
This team was built to win and every member played their part to make this success possible. 

"I have been in the college game for 27 years and I have learned every year is a new year," Dodge said. "I am so happy for this group of individuals to buy into what we want the program to be. They have laid down a foundation for future teams of mine for Westcliff."
 
Up next, the Warriors turn their attention to the National Championships and Rio Grande who will be their second-round match-up.
 
Westcliff will be traveling to Ohio to take on Rio Grande on Saturday, November 18th, with a start time of 10:00 AM PST.
 
"Traveling to Ohio to play a team that is always in the top 15 and always at nationals is a great honor," Dodge said. "I want these guys to continue to enjoy the moment that they are in and compete for one another."
 
This will be the debut of the men's soccer program at the national level and it will be exciting to see what they can accomplish.
 
You better believe that even after winning the conference title there is still a chip on their shoulders because they aren't done just yet.