LOST AND FOUND

By Brandon Petersen

Westcliff head coach Jack Gidney calls his women's soccer team, "The Island of Lost Toys."

It's a patchwork of parts deemed out of tune elsewhere that come together beautifully in Irvine to create championship music season after season.

Tuesday at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana, the Dubs did what they do and collected their second-straight California Pacific Conference tournament championship, this time with a 4-0 win over Simpson.

The win capped a perfect Cal Pac season and a 17-1-1 campaign overall, one that will land the Dubs in the NAIA national championships for the third time under Gidney.

Westcliff struck first in the 24th minute off the foot of Cal Pac Player of the Year Jordyn Gather, then Gather doubled the lead three minutes later by finishing a setup from Samantha Aguila.

In the second half, Cal Pac Offensive Player of the Year Jysabella Tolentino made it 3-0 off a feed from Andrea Reyes, and Aguila added a goal of her own just six minutes later to cap the scoring.

With Cal Pac First Team keeper Kayli Cokley and Defensive Player of the Year Jazlyn Arevalo anchoring the back line, the Warriors recorded another clean sheet while outshooting Simpson 26–7.

"Playing teams so many times is so hard, and again we adjusted," Gidney said. "We played with a back four tonight, then adjusted the midfield, and really got control.

"The group is so versatile, so intelligent, so talented."

The Warriors' dominance has been no accident. Every tweak, every shift, every subtle adjustment across the season has come from a team that knows each other — and their system — inside and out.

"They are a joy for Matt (Ferren) and I to work with," Gidney said. "I think the biggest compliment I can give them is I don't think anyone will be surprised by the result, or the season. It was expected. They are a fantastic group, and now we get to see just how good they can be."

Last year, Westcliff's run ended in heartbreak — a 2-1 loss to College of Idaho in the second round of the national tournament after defeating Hope International in penalty kicks.

This year's version, though, looks even sharper. With a dynamic attack, a disciplined defense, and a locker room built on trust, the Warriors will enter the national bracket as one of the most complete programs in the NAIA.

"Special thank you to everyone who came out and made noise and supported us," Gidney said. "We're excited to see what comes next."

The Warriors will now learn their seeding for nationals during the NAIA selection show.

You can watch along live, Nov. 14^th at 4 p.m. on YouTube.

Search: PlayNAIA.