ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Women's Soccer returned home to Wunderlich Field for another PacWest Conference showdown on Thursday afternoon, facing the Warriors of Westmont College. Despite an early spark from birthday girl Verenia Gonzalez, the Oaks were unable to maintain the lead, falling 1-3 after a strong second-half push by the Warriors.
Melcore's Career-High
Birthday Girl Gonzalez Strikes Early
The Oaks wasted no time putting pressure on the Warriors, as Verenia Gonzalez, who celebrated her birthday, converted a penalty in the 4th minute to give Menlo an early 1-0 advantage. The opening stretch saw the Oaks maintaining control and creating multiple scoring chances, including shots on target from Haley Dunham and Sarah Naumu, both denied by the Westmont keeper. Westmont responded in the 15th minute when they found the equalizer, leveling the match 1-1. Melcore's goalkeeping heroics kept Menlo even for much of the first half, as she racked up five saves before the break to hold off the Warriors' relentless attack.
Coming out of halftime, Westmont found their rhythm and took the lead in the 47th minute. Despite efforts from Kaylin Gonzalez and Trinity Brooks, who each tested the goalkeeper, the Oaks couldn't find the back of the net. The Warriors sealed the result in the 70th minute to extend their lead to 3-1. Melcore continued to shine in goal, making several key stops to keep the Oaks within reach, but Menlo's late push, including a near-miss from Gonzalez in the 83rd minute, fell just short as the clock ran out.
Up Next
Menlo Women's Soccer remains at home for their next PacWest matchup as they host the Dominican University Penguins on Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 AM at Wunderlich Field. The Oaks will look to bounce back and protect their home turf as the second half of conference play heats up.
