Warriors down the Eagles to open up Cal Pac Play

By: Chase Dodge

What Happened? 

Westcliff Warriors hosted defending 2022 Cal Pac Champions ERAU at the OC Great Park. The match was a hard fought from beginning to end.

Warriors applied the pressure first with a shot and corner kick that opened up the floodgates for an exciting match. in the 13th minute a handball at the goal line saw the 1st of 3 red cards issued giving the warriors a penalty shot opportunity.

Quentin Hornung sunk the penalty shot to the left corner giving the warriors a 1-0 edge. Eagles despite being a man down was able to pressure the Warriors offensively.

In the 2nd half, Eagles were able to equalize in the 48th minute. 5 minutes late another controversial moment a red card issued to Vincenzo Centrella for a handball in the middle of the field. 

Warriors and Eagles back on even sides, tied game both teams were creating chances. The Warriors had a lot of goal opportunites that did not go there way. In the 64th minute a double yellow booking saw the 3rd and final red card of the match. Eagles go down to 9 men. 

Warriors saw an opportunity and took advantage with a well placed through ball by Finn Pock to Wissem Obeid to sneak the ball pass the eagles keeper to go up 2-1 in the 68th minute. 

For the rest of the game the Eagles tried to create chances by the Warriors back line was not allowing anything through. Warriors take the win 2-1. They go up 5-0, 1-0 in conference.

Key Players

Quentin Hornung penalty shot gave the Warriors 1-0 lead. Wissem Obeid with the game winning goal.

Jordan Di Lonardo was excellent in the midfield challenging and winning balls.

Jussi Gerberding, Finn Pock, Vincenzo Centrella and Janis Hinterleitner were strong in the Warriors back line applying good challenges and pressure to halt the Eagles offense to only 6 shots the whole game.

Noah Schwengeler saw 2 shots on frame with 1 save.

Coaches Notes

"I was a little bit disappointed...don't know what it was. It was hard but credit to Embry-Riddle, they were good.

I thought that they were hard even when they went down a guy. They were still giving us fits.

We responded. We were very good in the 2nd half in regards to our work rate, our heart and discpline.

At the end of the day we found a way to get a result and in conference against one of the top teams you just have to get results.

And whether you look good or bad it doesn't matter at the end of the day. People are going to look at the fact that you got 3 points.

Following this game we have to respond to this showing, get a good recovery day, go over some things in film.

The team has to get their mind around because we just lost our captain (Centrella) to a red card.

We will respond, these guys will learn from this. When you play bad and still win that is a sign of good/great team. Super proud of the guys!