By Zach DeMarcus
August 19, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Saturday night's exhibition soccer game between UC Santa Barbara and Westmont continued the historic, cross-town showdown for the Bryant Cup. This game proved to be just that - historic; as the Westmont Warriors came out of Harder Stadium with a hard-fought 2-1 victory.  
 
This was the 55^th meeting between the two teams, and the first time the Warriors have found themselves in the win column since 2000, when they won 2-0. The series record now stands in favor of UCSB at 27-24-4.
 
The Warrior's defensive front is what made it all possible. They were composed in the back and waited for their chance to attack. The first goal came off the foot of Blake Homan in the 23^rd minute. Augie Andrade flicked a corner kick that found its way to the back of the box. Homan then fired a shot that hit off the crossbar, bouncing down into the goal to give Westmont the early 1-0 lead. The Warriors never looked back.
 
Andrade described the play this way, "We were able to get forward pretty early in the game.  A cross got block and we ended up with a corner kick. Set pieces are one of our biggest strengths. We spend a lot of time on them. Fortunately we were able to capitalize because of the repetition that we put in to it."
 
Head coach Dave Wolf said about the goal, "It was critical in the sense that we've given up so many early goals in this game over the last 10 years. The challenge for us here is we have to go through a process of developing our belief system. Can we actually compete in the game? The goal helped cement that. And then once that happened, we were able to just play soccer, and play the game."
 
The Gauchos had five shots in the first half, only one of which was on goal. This is a testament to the hard work that Westmont's backs put in tonight. The back line included Homan, Josh Constant, Nate Ruble, and Sam Martin. Homan, Constant, and Ruble put forth a heroic effort playing all 90 minutes.
 
Wolf, when talking about the back said, "Most of our experience, minutes, and depth is in the back row. So, coming into the year, we hoped that we would be difficult to score against. And I think that was definitely the case tonight. I thought the guys in the back played very well. And I hope that's a good indicator of what we have to look forward to."
 
UCSB did threaten in the 37^th minute when Kavian Kashani crossed the ball to the middle and Noah Billingsley headed the ball just over the Warrior's crossbar.
 
Wolf said about the Gauchos, "You don't see them miss the target much. Usually when they get chances they hit stuff on frame. I think - early season - maybe not quite in sync on the finishing piece. They definitely had some looks. Things, for them, were a little off target tonight."
 
Westmont took the 1-0 score into halftime. The second half proved to be much of the same. The Gauchos held the ball for much of the half, but the Warriors were able to stave off the threats.
 
Westmont's fitness was outstanding and played a key role in keeping them in the game. "For both teams, it's obviously an early season fitness test in some ways. The one thing that we've benefited from so far this training camp is we've stayed relatively healthy, which means we can play a lot of players. We did again tonight. They're a group of committed, hard-working guys and they gave everything they had to give. I was proud of the effort that they put forth," said Wolf when describing his team.
 
In the 83^rd minute Andrade intercepted a pass at midfield and went on an attack. He dished the ball off to Gabriel McEwen, who dribbled into the box then dumped the ball back to Andrade. Andrade found himself one-on-one with the Gaucho keeper. He then finished the ball into the back left netting for the goal.
 
Andrade said, "I was able to just read the center backs eyes, where he was going with the ball. I slipped Gabe and kept my run going to give him another option if he doesn't want the shot. Fortunately he saw me and I was able to be composed in front of the goal and slip it into the net."
 
UCSB's lone goal in the 90^th minute from Derek Kryzda came with four seconds left on the clock.
 
"At the end of the day I think we worked harder, and we got the result we were looking for," said Andrade. "This was more of a statement saying, 'We are a small school and we are able to compete at the highest level.' We just wanted to send a message tonight and I think that message is going through."
 
"My first thought was we're like a solar eclipse. Every 17 years we get them, and this must have been it," said Wolf about the win. "I think it's an interesting game in the sense that it means everything and nothing at the same time. This is, for our guys, their moment. This is the local derby. Half our guys wanted to play here. For them this is a big deal, but this is what I told them before the game on our campus. 'It will be training camp before the game and it will still be training camp after the game.'"
 
The Warriors open their regular season next Saturday at 12:00 p.m. against Cal State San Bernardino.