SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – For the first time this season, women's soccer team secured back-to-back wins after dispatching rivals Westmont 2-0 at Thorrington Field on Wednesday afternoon. Francesca Lindstrom opened the scoring with a well-taken chance supplied by Kaitlyn Currier in the closing stages of the first half. Then Abby Grabowski scored in minute 60 with a staggering solo effort to secure all three points on the road.

The Blue and Gold (5-7-1, 3-4) take their first win against the Warriors since November 2019 and also claim their fourth-ever win in Santa Barbara. Westmont is denied its fourth successive victory, moving to 5-9 overall and 5-3 in the Pacific West Conference.

Lindstrom's first-half strike was her third goal of the season and second in the PacWest. The senior has netted all three goals away from home and equals her best scoring season since her sophomore season in 2023.

Grabowski grabs her second goal of the season and first in the conference, while Currier's assist is a career third to put her at 17 career points overall.

What Happened? The Lions' season-high shot totals for the match led the Warriors 20-8, with nine hitting the target to WC's six. VU had their first taste of a goal inside three minutes, with Grabowski's early look on goal parried by the WC's PacWest Defender of the Week, Ellie Ludwig, in goal.

VU then enjoyed three straight well-placed corner kicks by Rachel Penick, which connected with a Lion on all three occasions, but could not grace the back of the net.

Kate Burns tried for a goal in the 14th minute after receiving a cushioned layoff from Sydney Powell outside the box, but the freshman's far-reaching strike was narrowly flashed wide of the bottom right corner.

Westmont had no true chances on goal until the 20th minute, when they produced their sharpest look at the VU net. Working on the counter, the Warriors opened up space through the left to create a chance in the left side of the box. Josselyne Navarrete shot off her line to quickly cut off the angle, denying the goalscoring threat with a firm left glove.

Penick laid claim to three quickfire shots in a one-minute span, with her second nearly being a stunner. She was given an ounce of space from the right wing in the 33rd minute and tried catching Ludwig off her line with an arching shot, which dropped to the left side of the crossbar.

Lindstrom pinched the opener in the 44th minute, after VU's repeated pressure off loose balls wedged a gap in the Westmont defense. Megan Charley intercepted from midfield and sent it toward the front line. WC's defense poked it away, but Currier was quick to the scraps, sending in a through ball in between the center backs to send Lindstrom on her way.

Lindstrom's pace demolished the high line as the senior rounded Ludwig and swept a smooth finish with her left boot into the open net to make it 1-0.

Vanguard remained active in the second half with an 11-4 lead in shots.  It was Westmont to open the shooting, however, with a free kick at the edge of the box in the 47th minute. The Warriors went for power over the Lion box, and Navarrete used a strong hand to push it away.

Grabowski put the Lions up by two after VU once again pounced on a 50-50 ball, this time from a goal kick. An attempted through ball in midfield was cut out by a hulking challenge from Burns.

With the ball launched over the top into Westmont territory, Grabowski was first to it. She read the flight of the ball and settled, squirming in front of her first defender, then shrugging off another in the box to get the ball onto her right boot. Placed a prime position in the box, her shot was carved into the bottom left corner for the 2-0 score.

VU had six of the remaining eight shots in the match. Powell forced four saves from Ludwig, with a header forward prompting a solo run toward goal from the halfway line, which was eventually stopped by the WC keeper at the near post. Lindsey Hiraki also found a narrow-angled shot, which was saved in the 85th minute.

What's Next? The Blue and Gold host Biola for the first time since 2015 on Saturday, November 1, at 11 am.