By John McCarty
On a frigid Friday night, the Pilot women faced off against the University of San Diego Toreros to decide who was the superior team in the West Coast Conference.
The Pilots were able to shut down the Toreros with a 2-0 victory, once again winning the WCC Championship, but victory didn't come without a price.
Senior forward Michelle Enyeart sustained a knee injury just moments before the end of the first half.
Enyeart tore her ACL in a rough collision with USD's keeper Courtney Parsons. Despite the injury, Enyeart was awarded WCC player of the year.
"I think Michelle's injury is most disappointing personally, especially on senior night right before playoffs," said Associate Director of Soccer Garrett Smith. "As a team we'll be fine, there will still be eleven Pilots out there."
The West Coast Conference Championship game was featured on ESPNU, coming away with a win the Pilots automatically advance to the NCAA playoffs.
On Monday it was announced that the Pilots seeded number two in the NCAA tournament and will be hosting the first two rounds at Merlo Field.
Though the news of home field advantage for the opening round of the playoffs is favorable, the Pilots, most recently ranked no. 2 nationally on the NSCAA poll, find the lack of a no.1 seed somewhat disappointing.
Smith, however, doesn't believe it will significantly alter the final outcome.
"The seeding didn't go our way. But that doesn't prevent winning, we can prove them wrong," Smith said.
The Pilots face off against the University of Denver (17-5-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday after Mississippi (13-5-2) and Washington (11-5-4) faceoff at 4 p.m. The winners of each game will battle it out on Sunday at noon.
During the WCC title bout, seniors Megan Sweeney, Janelle Jacka, Michelle Enyeart and Kelsey Davis were honored with their families in a special pre-game celebration of senior night.
Though the game would be their final regular season game at Merlo Field, it will not be the last time Merlo will see the seniors with the post-season just around the corner.
The Pilots are 18-1 overall and have allowed only seven goals the entire season.
Thanks to tenacious defense, goalkeeper Davis only had to make two saves throughout the game.
"Defensively, we keep everything organized," Davis said. "I have full confidence in every player so I don't really get worried."
Outshooting the Toreros 10-3, the Pilot offensive onslaught kept the pressure on and allowed for junior midfielder Kendra Chandhoke to get the scoring started.
In the 26th minute, Chandhoke intercepted a pass from the USD midfield near the top of the box, took a touch and blasted the ball high and to the left, just past the fingertips of USD's keeper Courtney Parsons.
"San Diego is on top of the conference, and we've taken it [the title] away from them again," junior midfielder Keelin Winters said. "This was a great night, especially for the seniors."
The second and final goal came in the 38th minute off a corner kick. Sophomore forward Danielle Foxhoven launched the ball into the fray and found Chandhoke, who chested the ball to junior forward Sophie Schmidt for a quick volley from six yards out.
"We did what we had to," Smith said. "And we got exactly what we wanted."
