Hope’s History: Warriors PK Their Way into Round 2

By Brandon Petersen

Jazlyn Arevalo had a feeling it might come down to her.

After 110 minutes of grueling, scoreless NAIA national tournament soccer in the cold and rain of Caldwell, Idaho, penalty kicks would decide the fate of Westcliff's first round matchup with Hope International Thursday at the College of Idaho.

Being a former Royal who ended her tenure in Fullerton on less-than-ideal terms, Arevalo felt she needed to be in the mix to kick at crunch time and volunteered when head coach Jack Gidney asked for names.

Although she wasn't in the first-five, she had a hunch her moment might come.

And then, it did.

The Warriors and Royals traded winners for 14 straight penalty kicks.

Jaida Wilson, Jordan Moreno, Isabella Covarrubias, Jysabella Tolentino, Alberte Angersbach, Valery Cruz and Eva Alexandra Kristjansdottir, one-by-one, were true.

Then, when Larissa Perez sent her attempt over the cross bar on Hope's eighth attempt, Arevalo walked calmly to the 12-yard mark, planted her ball, made her choice, and sent Hope – just the latest in a long line of supposedly superior squads – back home to Southern California early.

Still unbeaten.

Still dancing.

The party continues for Westcliff women's soccer.

"I said after the last game, this group never ever thinks it's going to lose," Gidney said. "Their minds can't compute it. They just believe they're winning every time; however it happens."

The Warriors played Warrior soccer Thursday.

Leaning heavily on their stacked defense, the best in the country, having allowed just two goals all year, the Dubs did what they do – park the bus and dare you to score on Kayli Cokley (six saves).

Hope tried with all their might – 21 shots taken, six on frame – but not one touched net.

Meanwhile, Westcliff was its typical efficient self on the offensive end, trading gaudy shot totals (six) for valuable attempts (four on-goal) and making them go in when they're needed most.

"Being a centerback, I'm not usually the goal-scoring type," Arevalo said. "But I felt in my heart I needed to be up there. I wasn't in the original five, but I mentally prepared myself to be ready if it came to me. After seeing my teammates absolutely smash their PKs, my confidence continued to grow.

"I believe it was all part of God's plan for me to end the game. As I walked up, I put full faith in my God and the work I put in the offseason and during season. I took my deep breath, chose my side and hit it with confidence.

"There are no words to describe the happiness and fullness of my heart. I am full of gratitude to Coach Jack for believing in me and investing in me. Celebrating the win with my teammates is definitely going down as a core memory."

Said captain Jordan Moreno: "Extremely proud of the girls. We stuck to our game plan and pulled through with another win, despite being counted out again. We continue to rise to the occasion and now we prep for Saturday's match."

Gidney credited Moreno and Arevalo as well as Kylie Brenninkmeijer and Jaida Wilson with another outstanding defensive performance, calling it a "resolute display."

The Warriors went into the game feeling that they had the press structure to force Hope into areas of the field where they would have difficulty scoring.

The tactic paid off.

"We lean heavily on the unity of this group and how strong they are at the unfashionable, less glitzy side of soccer," Gidney said.

As the adage goes, defense wins championships, and the Warriors take pride in the fact that they know exactly who they are, what they are best at, and that they will unabashedly play to those strengths, no matter the chatter from outside voices.

Those voices, as it turns out, have been wrong all season.

And for Westcliff graduate players Arevalo, Monique Cervantes and Gabriella Arredondo, who all found greener pastures after leaving Hope International, not listening to negativity took on an added meaning Thursday.

"This game meant more to me than just being a first round or nationals," Arevalo said. "It was the perfect closure for me to move on from my past college experience.

"Sending Hope home also meant officially closing my chapter with Hope at peace – in a positive environment, surrounded by the best human beings."

Said Gidney: "When we got to penalties, you saw the excitement of each taker running forward for their shot. They knew it was coming, and for it to be Jazlyn Arevalo, who was outstanding today – it was a moment for the script writers.

"Watching the team share the joy for her more than for the win was something special. I will continue to say it, this group of humans are incredible, and I am lucky to be attached to them."

Surprise, surprise, the Warriors will be an underdog Saturday when they face the fifth-seeded host, College of Idaho, on the Yotes' home turf.

But really, would the Dubs have it any other way?

The game kicks off at 11 a.m.