Eyeing Cal Pac Hardware, Women’s Soccer Stirs

By Brandon Petersen

Last season, mercifully, is long over for the Westcliff women's soccer team. 

It was a year of unprecedented bad luck — torn ACL's, car crashes, rogue felines bearing animus toward Hydroflasks — just, don't ask. 

But 2022 is a new year, and the Warriors are right back where they belong — in contention for a Cal Pac championship. 

"We have very high expectations for the season," head coach Jack Gidney said. "We have attracted some very high level recruits and the team has great depth. We are expecting to challenge for both titles in our conference and try to make some noise nationally."

The Cal Pac format is a little different this year. Marymount and Sierra Nevada have departed, and the league will feature one division made up of 12 teams, nixing the pod-play format. 

Westcliff will only play rivals St. Katherine and Embry-Riddle once this year, putting a premium on those contests, particularly an Oct. 22nd showdown with the preseason NAIA No. 25 Eagles in Arizona. 

That contest, the penultimate match of the season, could go a long way in determining a Cal Pac champion and Cal Pac tournament seeding. 

"We have a great opening scrimmage at (NCAA) DII Cal State Dominguez Hills," Gidney said. "But the games that matter are in conference. St. Katherine, UC Merced and Embry-Riddle are all schools coming off good seasons."

As far as UC Merced is concerned, the schedule breaks down favorably, with the Bobcats traveling down the 99 for a Sept. 16th match-up at the Great Park. 

The Warriors will face St. Katherine at home, as well as powerhouse Westmont — currently ranked No. 8 nationally by the NAIA — and will face Hope (RV) at the Great Park as well. 

Big-name newcomers to the Warriors' roster this year include Alessandra Ramirez, a complete defender who represented Mexico's U20 squad and was formerly committed to Long Beach State, Angelina Espinal, a former high school All American who transferred in from San Diego State, and Sebelle Rojas, a grad-student transfer from Seattle University.

Gidney spoke glowingly of all three, and expects all three to not only lead on the pitch, but off of it as well. 

Sierra Rangel joined the program in the spring, but will lace them up for her first game as a Warrior at Dominguez Hills. Gidney described her as a player you don't notice until she isn't on the field — she's that valuable. 

Of course, the Westcliff roster was loaded with talent before any of the newcomers arrived. 

Thea Sofie Kanestrom returns at striker as a sophomore after wowing the Cal Pac a year ago with her combination of speed, ball-handling and scoring prowess. 

"She's one of the best strikers I've worked with," Gidney said. "She is so crafty and clever with her movement. She was phenomenal in the spring and we are looking for a huge year from her."

Captain Christine Thorvaldsen, an explosive outside back who makes a difference in both boxes, also returns, as does fellow field captain Ashley Sanchez. 

The Warriors extend their leadership committee beyond their two on-field captains. Elle-May Taylor, Merima Boehler, Maria Mendez and Alberte Angersbach are all a part of Westcliff's leadership crew.

"They are all different characters who are prepared to have difficult conversations," Gidney said. "They all bring different perspectives and cultures to leadership discussions, which allows us to make decisions that are more inclusive for the group as a whole."

Cohesion is something the Warriors have never struggled with. 

Westcliff women's soccer has always been one of the most successful programs at the school (including a year ago) and that is in no small part due to a roster of selfless players who recognize the team's goals supersede individual accomplishments. 

It's also been due to wonderful coaching staffs that have evolved year-to-year but have maintained a consistent, winning philosophy.

"I'm fortunate to have the best staff in the business," Gidney said. "Francesca Escobedo, Matt Ferren, Paige Brandt, Ty Martin and Kachy Rodriguez make us the functioning unit we are — we could not operate without them."

August 25th is the date for Warriors fans to mark on their calendars — that will be the season opener against Hope at the Great Park. 

The match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Field 19, adjacent to the baseball stadium. 

We will see you on the berm!

To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.