Cal Pac Champs: Gidney Reloads Roster

By Brandon Petersen

Now the challenge really begins. 

Coming off a year in which Westcliff women's soccer outpaced the expectations of everyone except themselves, the Cal Pac champion Warriors now find themselves with a target on their backs. 

No longer will Jack Gidney's team be able to sneak up on opponents. 

Gone are the days of shocking upsets. 

No one is going to take the Warriors lightly — and they know it. 

"Last year, we had a great year and came out of nowhere," Gidney said. "This year, everyone knows who we are, and what talent we have. When that happens, they prepare a little bit more for you, they examine you in more detail. 

"Teams always push the extra 5-percent to beat the champions. That means we cannot ever have an off day. We cannot get complacent. We must push the professionalism in our behavior and training."

Following their stunning 1-0 upset of previously unbeaten Embry-Riddle in the Cal Pac championship, the Warriors moved on to face the No. 1 team in the country. 

Gidney says the road trip to Palm Beach to face Keiser exposed the Warriors' naivety, having just been crowned champs days earlier. 

This season, Gidney and his staff focused on recruiting experienced, leadership-driven athletes to help round out the roster with players who won't find the bright spotlight too glaring. 

"We have brought in a lot of bounce-back players and captains from other teams to help with the direction of the program," he said. 

Westcliff graduated its first class of seniors last spring, and it was a large group — the same that weathered the storm during the COVID year and established Westcliff's winning culture from the jump. 

The Warriors also lost a couple of European athletes, and couple more experienced players to higher level opportunities outside of collegiate soccer. 

Not to worry, Gidney says. The Warriors simply reloaded. 

"We are happy with the level of our new signings," he said. "We have some really exciting players in the group. We have tried to target players that bring the experience of high-level soccer and high-performance environments — not just for game days, but for the daily training environment and behaviors.

"Winning a championship is so incredibly difficult, but retaining it is even harder, and we are very aware of that."

RELOADED

Let's breakdown the list of Westcliff signees, complete with a comment from Gidney on each athlete. 

(The list is in no particular order).

Giaan Langford — "Giaan joins us from D1 South Carolina State. She will bring us not just a high level of talent, but also top level experience and versatility to play on multiple different lines of the pitch."

Angela Morales — "Angela joins us having last played for D1 Long Beach State. Ang is a top, top, top talent and was a member of the USA U18 National Team Pool. She also went viral on ESPN for a dazzling piece of skill while at CSULB. She will take our attacking play to new levels of creativity and will be a lot of fun to watch."

Jaida Wilson — "Jaida joins us from Cal Sate Fullerton. Jaida brings great athleticism and physicality to our back line, as well as top level experience and ability that is so key to us and the way we play."

Erika Olivera Gutierrez — "Erika is another player joining with NCAA experience having been with Holy Names University. Another player with great experience and ability and whose versatility in the back line gives us a lot of options."

America Villalpando — "America is an All Conference player, captain and attacking MVP from West LA College. She can play across the front line or as an attacking midfielder. An exciting player who has so much more potential to unlock in her next two seasons."

Kassandra Jimenez — "Kass is a two-time All Conference defender from LA Harbor College. She can play as a center back and as an outside back. She is another player that we feel there is so much more to come from in the next two seasons."

Cindy Suarez — "Cindy is a goalkeeper who was an All Conference selection at Fullerton College before she went to Providence. She brings ability and Cal Pac experience to challenge Ani (Ana Martinez Moreno) for the goalkeeper spot."

Camila Montes — "Cami is an incoming freshman from Long Beach Poly. We are excited to bring in a four-year player in Cami who has so much potential. She can play on the inside in central midfield, or as a winger. She has a natural feel and intelligence for the game and will push for minutes from the get go."

Kylie Brenninkmeijer — "Kylie is a defender who can play all across the back line. She brings great pace and physical attributes along with her versatility having stood out in play from LA Valley College as a captain."

Sasha Lopez — "Sasha joins us from the junior college state champions, Mt. Sac. Sasha is a fantastic athlete and great 1v1 defender with good pace and strength who will challenge for time at outside back."

Mara Hüfner — "Mara joins us from Germany where she has been team captain and guided her group to promotion through the German tiers. Mara is a good technician who plays in the wide attacking areas and we look forward to having her experience as a player and as a leader in our group."

Catarina Mateo — "Cat is a sophomore midfielder from Las Vegas who is transferring over from San Diego Christian. She has a huge personality and will be a big asset to our team in the midfield as she can play in a holding, or an attacking role."

Jordan Moreno — "Jordan is a center back coming to us from Fullerton College, where she was an All Conference selection and a team captain both years. Jordan is coming off an injury but her character and leadership as well as her ability made her an extremely attractive prospect to our back line."

Julia Hernandez — "Julia is also coming from Fullerton College. Julia is an interesting player for our right hand side who can play right back, wing back and right winger. We are looking forward to getting her into our squad and what tactical flexibility she can provide us."

Ashley Murguia — "Ashley actually joined us in the spring. She is an experienced central midfield player who was a standout at College of the Canyons. In her youth, she also attended two U17 Mexican National Team camps."

PRESEASON DOCKET

August 21st is the date of the Warriors' first official match against Hope International. 

The Warriors will start with a couple of scrimmages against IVC (8/11) and Thompson Rivers University (8/16).

Following an exhibition with Cal State Dominguez Hills on August 25th, the Warriors will face Chapman on August 30th and Occidental on Sept. 2.

In an incredible scheduling move on the Cal Pac's part, Westcliff and Embry-Riddle face off in Irvine to start league play on Sept. 7. 

Bring your popcorn. 

STAY TUNED RIGHT HERE

The Westcliff Women's Soccer season preview will be released in early August, so stay tuned as we gear up to follow the Cal Pac champions all season long.