Master’s Soccer Team Loses Its Sock, 1-0

SANTA BARBARA —  The Westmont College men’s soccer team ended the three-year NAIA District 3 championship reign of The Master’s College with a 1-0 victory Saturday.

With Ezequiel Bongarra, the district’s leading scorer, ineffective because of a dislocated elbow suffered in The Master’s 1-0 semifinal victory over Biola on Wednesday, the Mustangs (14-6-1) managed only two shots on goal. Bongarra started but was not a factor.

“Not having Bongarra at full strength hurt us a lot,” The Master’s Coach Jim Rickard said. “Without him, we can’t get much going offensively.”

Westmont (16-3-3), which earlier this season played The Master’s to a scoreless tie, outshot the Mustangs, 17-2.

Westmont’s Benny Byer scored the goal, beating goalkeeper Brian Crosson late in the first half.

Westmont advances to the NAIA championships beginning Nov. 22 in San Antonio, Tex.

The Warriors beat The Master’s in the 1989 final, the Mustangs’ first of five consecutive District 3 championship game appearances.