By Mason Nesbitt
For The Signal
As Brayden Campos prepared to talk about his game-winning goal Saturday at The Master’s University, someone off-camera tossed a playful jab his way.
“Brayden, smile dude.”
There was plenty to grin about.
Campos’ goal eight minutes into the second overtime lifted Master’s to a crucial 2-1 win over Hope International University from Fullerton.
Hours earlier, the Mustang women’s soccer team cruised past Hope, 5-0, with five different players scoring goals.
One, unsurprisingly, came from the team’s leader in that category, Valencia High product Jasmine Parada, who found the back of the net for the 11th time this season.
Defender Kayla Peterson, on the other hand, scored for the first time in her collegiate career. That being the case, the sophomore joked it might be time to retire.
“I’ve decided to retire now that I have a goal and an assist,” said Peterson, whose team was ranked ninth in the NAIA as of Monday. “I decided I’m now done and I’ll play it safe.”
The Mustangs (12-2 overall, 5-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference) will need Peterson, though, when they play NAIA No. 6 Westmont on the road Saturday in a battle for second place. Vanguard currently holds down first place, three points ahead of the Mustangs.
The Master’s men’s soccer team, ranked No. 24 in the NAIA, sits in a three-way tie for second place in the GSAC standings, six points behind first-place Vanguard.
MORE: No. 24 TMU men’s soccer can’t hold on against No. 16 Vanguard
Saugus High graduate Trevor Mangan has been a key contributor. He’s scored five goals and assisted on four others.
Valencia grad Luis Garcia Sosa has dished out seven assists, and fellow former Viking Dylan Bielanski and Canyon grad Tristin Rochow have helped anchor a back line that’s keyed five shutouts.
The men also play at Westmont in Santa Barbara on Saturday in a match with heavy GSAC implications.
Saugus grad earns high honor
Abigail Frankian is no stranger to fast. And the Saugus High grad was honored again last week for her work in the cross-country realm. The GSAC named Frankian its female Runner of the Month on Oct. 5, days after Frankian finished fourth at the sixth annual The Master’s University XC Invitational. She ran the 5K course in 18 minutes and 5.2 seconds.
The GSAC also factored in her eighth-place finish at the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 16. There she ran a 17:50.3.
For more information about The Master’s University Athletics, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @TMUAthletics.
