By Rob Goodrow
October 16, 2019
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) After giving up the first goal of the game, the Westmont Men's Soccer Team scored four straight times to hand visiting Hope International the loss, 4-1. The NAIA #4 ranked Warriors (10-1, 4-0 GSAC) remain unbeaten in conference play and alone in first place.
 
Another first for the Warriors was being down 1-0 in a game on their home field. It had not happened all season until the 18th minute when the Royals' Christopher Ribet converted a penalty kick to make it 1-0 visitors.
 
"It was definitely a strange entry to the game," said Westmont assistant coach Johnny Whallon. "I think we could have gotten frustrated – and Hope was at their best during that ten minute stretch right after they scored on the PK (penalty kick) – but we put in the work, grinded, and survived it."
 
The equalizing goal for the Warriors came from their forward attack but it was scored by a defenseman from the backline, senior Tim Heiduk. In a bit of give-and-go, Heiduk took a pass in the middle from sophomore Owen Bates, bumped it back out to Bates, and then advanced the replayed ball into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
 
"That was the game changing moment," explained Whallon. "It's funny because we were behind so you'd think game changing moments are when you go up but today it was the tying goal that changed everything for us."
 
In the 40th minute Westmont soccer fans were treated to an extraordinary sequence of offense. Playing a free kick from the backfield, Heiduk sent a soaring drive over forty yards to the front where teammate Tyler Young cleanly headed it out of the air to Warrior midfielder Samuel Tuscano who then picked up the pass on one bounce and blasted a left-footer to the opposite corner of the net. The game winner gave Westmont a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
 
"That was an amazing ball strike by Sam," said Whallon. "It certainly lifted our spirits to go up 2-1 right before half and on a highlight like that."
 
If the Warriors took half of the first segment to get their footing, the second forty-five went differently. In just the fifth minute, off a throw-in that was headed out to the top of the box by a Royal defender, junior Jona Romero took the ball out of the air and drilled a one-hopper past the goalkeeper to give Westmont a two-score advantage. From there the Warriors' defense clamped down and held the Hope International offense to only three shots.
 
"In the second half we were really good. Jona Romero was just awesome. That third goal just broke their will," said Whallon. "Getting up two scores allowed us the ability to change our rotations. We played 21 players today, which is great for team morale and for high-minute guys to get a little rest."

The fireworks were not all finished when, in the 83rd minute, Westmont goalkeeper, senior Edward "Lalo" Delgado, got to play on the offensive end of the field for the first time in his storied career. Delgado squared up and knocked home a penalty kick for his career goal number one.
 
The Warriors next challenge is on the road Saturday, Oct. 19 versus The Master's at 1:30 p.m.