By Ron Smith
October 15, 2025
 
(AZUSA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Soccer (5-4-2, 1-2-1 PacWest) and Azusa Pacific (4-5-2, 3-0-1) matched wits on the soccer pitch at APU on Wednesday night in what proved to be a closely contested shootout. Each team scored three goals, resulting in a tie. Westmont led the game for 25:32 while Azusa led for 28:33. The game was tied for 35:55.
 
The Cougars drew first blood with a goal in the 21st minute. Sohei Matsumori passed a ball from the midfield stripe to Solis Luis in the center of the pitch. Luis connected with Leke Ademola who was at the top of the 18-yard box. Ademola spun around his defender and found himself one-on-one with Westmont goalkeeper Aidan Strickler. Ademola was able to slip the ball past Strickler as the keeper came out from the goal, putting it in the right side netting.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the 42nd minute when Serkan Durna scored his fourth goal of the season. Kristian Johnson, who was playing right back, received a ball from Stricker in the Warriors' defensive third. Johnson dribbled to within 10 yards of the center line, then forwarded the ball into the right corner leading  Weston Ash with the pass. Ash retrieved the ball, then dribbled to the right edge of the 18-yard box where he crossed it to the far side of the six-yard box.  Durna ran on the pass, leapt and headed the ball just inside the left-hand upright for the equalizer.
 
"I think our first half performance was a good performance," assessed Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey. "We gave up one or two moments where APU capitalized, but for the most part, I thought we played well. We found good spaces. We moved the ball while we played with confidence and belief. We found a lot of solutions that were there for the game. We defended, for the most part, really well.
 
At the 52nd minute mark, Westmont took the lead on Erik Guerrero's fifth goal of the season. Ash sent a ball from the left side to Cole Lomeli in the middle of the pitch. Lomeli settled the ball with one touch, then passed it to Guerrero at the top of the 18-yard box where he was unguarded. Guerrero settled the ball with his left foot, then stutter stepped around the ball in a counter-clockwise motion. He then planted his right foot and launched the ball with his left into the side netting on the right side.
 
"I thought the first goal from Wes to Serkan was great, as was our second goal, which was a combination play that showed our ability to find Erik in good pockets," said Cathey. "Erik is someone who provides such a great quality in those moments to finish."
 
"In the second half, I thought the first 15-20 minutes we defended well. We created a lot of good transition moments and I thought, today, we showed a lot more cohesion going forward.
 
Westmont retained the 2-1 lead until the 78th minute when Azusa Pacific pulled even with a goal by Mario Shuteriqi. Kaleb Abara launched a cross from the left side that found the head of Shuteriqi. The header went just inside the right upright.
 
Two minutes later, the Cougars struck again and took a 3-2 lead. Osmin Carranza dribbled from the right touchline into the 18-yard box before passing off to Raul Lavado. Lavado settled the ball, then placed his shot with his right foot in the center of the net for the goal.
 
"I think we put ourselves in some bad situations that led to opportunities for them," expressed Cathey. "It was disappointing for us to give up the two goals we did because I think they were very controllable moments for us. However, it's a huge credit to them because they just wore us down today. APU has so much quality in the wide areas and then they're two upfront and they're 10 and the wide parts of their diamond can really expose you in moments.
 
"I thought we handled it really well for the majority of the game. Those moments for APU, I think, came out of us not being brave and wanting to play and attack and dictate the game. We allowed them too many opportunities based on us not wanting to grab hold of the game in the moments where it was there for us to really be clinical."
 
Down 3-2, Westmont pressed for a chance to record its second equalizer of the game. That opportunity came in the 88th minute. Johnson threw the ball into the six-yard box from the left touchline. A handball by the Cougars was missed by the official and the ball was sent out by an Azusa Pacific defender, just above the 18-yard box.
 
Leonel Olivo Ortiz retrieved the loose ball and sent it parallel across the top of the box to Durna. Durna used his left foot to send the ball back inside the six-yard box to Luis Cortes, who stepped to his right and would have had a strong opportunity to score. However, Cortes' arms were grabbed from behind by a Cougar who then wrestled him to the ground. The whistle blew and Westmont was awarded a penalty kick. Several Cougars made objections to both the center and assistant referees, but the call stood.
 
After order was restored, Guerrero took the penalty kick and sent it into a crease as APU goalkeeper Alexis Rodriguez dove in the opposite direction.
 
Neither team was able to take a shot in the remaining 2:46.
 
"I think where we can take some belief is to have come back into the game (after going down)," reflected Cathey. "Obviously, to score three goals after scoring two in our last game is good. I think our guys are starting to find more confidence and fluidity in the attacking third. Overall, I think it was a step in the right direction for us and I'm excited for another opportunity against Biola on Saturday."
 
The Warriors will host the Eagles as part of a Homecoming women's and men's doubleheader. The women will kick-off at noon with the men scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.