By Ron Smith
September 20, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) A goal by senior forward Serkan Durna in the 66th minute gave Westmont Men's Soccer (3-1-1) a 2-1 victory over the Cougars of Cal State San Marcos (0-3-2) on Thursday afternoon at Thorrington Field. While Westmont now holds a 4-3-2 series advantage, this was the Warriors first win over the Cougars in fifteen years.
 
In just the fourth minute of the game, San Marcos scored on a corner kick to take an early lead. Jesua Espanoza Castillo sent the ball from the left corner where Andrew Valencia elevated and headed it into the far crease.
 
"For us to concede the goal in the first 10 minutes was unfortunate," said Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey.
 
In the ninth minute, the Warriors took advantage of a Cougar miscue to tie the game at a goal apiece. Durna stole a ball from center back Brando Oros. As Durna headed toward goal, Oros reached out and grabbed Durna's right arm from behind, just above the 18-yard box. The referee blew his whistle to indicate the foul, then presented Oros with a red card.
 
After Oros exited the game, senior midfielder Erik Guerrero stepped up to take the free kick from 24 yards out on the right side. Facing a wall of six blue-clad Cougars – with a white-suited Warriors added in – Guerrero used his left foot to send the ball around the left side of the wall. The ball skimmed off a Cougar's shoulder before continuing into the net for the goal.
 
"I'm glad we capitalized on the red card," expressed Cathey. "The hard part is that when you are faced with playing a man up for as long as we had the advantage, the mentality of the opponent in that moment is very much going toward defending, and bunkering, and not giving away many opportunities. So, you have to be very good in the spaces that are there.
 
"It was a huge credit to San Marcos. They defended really well for so much of the game. They also transitioned really well. They had an opportunity in the first half and a handful in the second half. Even down a man, they created some good opportunities.
 
"Obviously, the game changed after that first 10 minutes. We were really good to be patient in the second half and we put ourselves in more dangerous positions. We only had one shot on goal in the second half, playing up a man for 30 minutes. We had a lot of the ball, but we weren't dangerous.
 
"The first 10 minutes of the first half, we were very dangerous. We had three or four clear chances to score and finally the goal came around the 66th minute."
 
Cooper Matthews intercepted a pass in the midfield, then sent it to Durna in the middle of the pitch. Durna dribbled toward goal, then fired with his right foot from 23 yard out, sending the ball to the left corner.
 
"It was a great individual effort," assessed Cathey. "I thought Serkan was really good today at getting into dangerous possessions. He presses, wins the ball, gets in behind and causes them to bring him down. Then, he created a goal with a great finish. I'm really proud of him and the group to hold on and get the win.
 
Prior to Durna's goal, the Cougars took control of the game from the 51st minute through the 60th minute. During that time, San Marcos took five shots, requiring a strong defensive effort by Westmont.
 
"Our defending in and around the box is something we have really tried to work on," reported Cathey. "I was very pleased with how we did. I thought we stayed true and honest to the moments of the game where we had to defend. That is not easy for as long as we did it, and I thought we did it excellently.
 
"Logan Race was outstanding. Marco Valdez had a couple of big blocks. Alex Reyes came in and had a great performance. Cash Anderholt, Kristian Johnson and John Ruetschle all did really well as fullbacks, defending those spaces well. I thought Joey Angelo had a really good game defensively, being in the right spaces and defending the transitions moments well. I thought he timed his tackles excellently."
 
Making his presence felt all over the field was junior forward Leonel Olivo Ortiz.
 
"Leo, today, had to do a number of different things for us," noted Cathey. "I thought he was really consistent on both sides of the ball – defensively and in attack. He balanced us really well. We asked him to play fullback in the second half and I thought he did it well. He gives a lot with his work rate. He was really good today."
 
The Warriors have two games remaining in the non-conference season before turning their attention to PacWest play. On Wednesday, September 23, Westmont will travel north to take on the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay (2-2) in Hayward. Then on Saturday, September 27, the Warriors will head south for a non-conference match-up with the Sea Lions of Point Loma (2-2-1).