By Ron Smith
November 9, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Soccer concluded the 2024 regular season with a 4-3 win over Dominican on Saturday afternoon at Thorrington Field. What started out as a dominant performance by Westmont in the first half, ended up as a nailbiter in the second as the Warriors tried to pursue multiple agendas.
 
"It was two-fold today," said Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey. "We were trying to give some guys a rest knowing that we have big games secured that are coming up. We were also trying to give some guys a look that have not had as much of a chance in the last couple of games to have an opportunity to play.
 
"We thought that was great. It gave us a foundation to learn about certain individuals. When we also needed a goal, putting certain guys back on the field and getting them in and around the box was definitely what we needed to do."
 
The Warriors opened the scoring in the 13th minute. A pass by Connor Lynch while he was in the box resulted in a hand ball by a Penguin defender. Landon Amaral took the ensuing penalty kick and scored when he put the ball in the right side.
 
Then in the 21st minute, Westmont extended its lead to 2-0. Serkan Durna dribbled down the center of the field, then slotted a ball along the ground to Lynch on the left-hand side. Lynch took a touch, then fired with his left foot. The ball hit the underside of the cross bar and bounced into the goal.
 
The Penguins answered back in the 26th minute with their first goal of the game. Armando Jimenez scored on a shot from 24 yards out on the right side that found the left side netting.
 
Just three minutes later, Leonel Olivo Ortiz put the Warriors up 3-1. Lynch took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that the goalkeeper punched back into play. The ball went to Olivo Ortiz on the left side who simply headed a line drive into the far side netting.
 
With the start of the second half, Cathey made some personnel changes in favor of some of his reserve players.
 
In just the 49th minute, Dominican's Abraham Garcia took a shot from outside the penalty area that rebounded off the right post and found Diego Grande. Grande quickly returned it to the goal, making it a 3-2 game.
 
Over the next 20 minutes Dominican had much of the possession. Then in the 80th minute, Anthony Stainer crossed the ball in from the left and Thomas Van Schoor headed it in to tie the game at three goals each.
 
In the 83rd minute, Cathey returned four starters to the field –Durna, Daniel Tuscano, Cash Anderholt and Donovan Howat. In the 88th minute, Durna scored the game winner.
 
Erik Guerrero headed a ball to Connor Lynch who sent it forward to Durna as he was breaking for the goal. Durna beat the goalkeeper to the ball and flipped it over the keeper as he attempted to slide-kick it away. Durna followed the ball into the goal and kicked it into the netting in celebration.
 
"In the first half, we took our chances very well," said Cathey. "The hand ball was a little bit fortunate for us and unfortunate for Dominican. We finished that chance and the other few chances that we had. Leo and Erik had two one-on-one chances that their defenders made unbelievable plays to reach around them and get pokes on the ball.
 
"Leo's goal was awesome and Connor had an incredible strike at the near post. I thought Leo should have had one more and that he was really good. It's great to see those guys get good chances.
 
"The last three games, we have seen our running off the ball in the attacking third has been really sharp and timing has been good. We are exposing the opponent a lot and creating a lot of really good chances.
 
"I thought today we didn't take as many chances as we should have. I thought it should have been 4-1 at halftime and then probably the game is put to bed. I knew based on their quality that they were going to have chances to get back in the game and they definitely did. I'm happy that our guys were able to pull it out at the end."
 
Prior to the game, the Warriors honored seven seniors for their contributions to Westmont Men's Soccer:

• Miguel Alvarado
• Brady Highfill
• Jonah Houston
• Graeme Jorden
• Connor Lynch
• Isaiah Pichone
• Michael Stull 

"It is a unique senior class," asserted Cathey. "We had three of the seven senior class who were out injured and two of those have been basically season-long injuries. However, there aren't enough adjectives to describe how impactful they have been for me as a coach and also in the program.
 
"Connor has had incredible leadership on and off the field. Brady has been exceptional since the first day that I arrived. He has shown a desire to learn and to grow and to take every challenge that has been thrown at him. He has done really well. Today, he had one of the best saves I have seen him make and had another unbelievable save to keep us in the game.
 
"Stull is a consistent threat every time he is on the field and has owned his role this year in such a great way. So, he has continued to add value. Isaiah is one of my favorites. He is so grateful to be a part of the program again that he gives so much out of that."
 
The Warriors now set their sights on the PacWest Championships which begin on Thursday, November 14 at Orange County Great Park in Irvine. Westmont will enter the tournament as the number two seed, taking on third-seeded Hawai'i Hilo (11-5-1, 6-4-1) in the second semifinal game at 1:30 p.m.
 
The first semifinal game features top-seeded Point Loma Nazarene (11-2-3, 9-1-1) and Fresno Pacific (7-6-5, 6-5) at 11:00 a.m.
 
The semifinal winners will meet in the championship game on Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 p.m.