By Ron Smith
September 24, 2025
 
(HAYWARD, Calif.) Playing a man down and behind 2-1, Westmont Men's Soccer (4-1-1) scored twice in the final 10 minutes to produce a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay (2-3) on Wednesday afternoon. Senior midfielder Erik Guerrero proved to be the man of the hour – or rather 10 minutes – by scoring both goals, his third and fourth of the season.
 
"Incredibly proud of the effort our players showed in the game," said an emotional head coach Morgan Cathey. "It was one of my favorite moments here as a Westmont coach. I haven't ever been part of a game when we have been down a man and down a goal and found a way to win. It was an incredible effort from every single guy and I am so proud of the group.
 
The first goal of the game came in the 31st minute. Chase Anderholt threw in a ball from the right touch line that was received by Leonel Olivo Ortiz. The junior forward flicked the ball backward with his right foot to Guerrero who looped it over a defender before sending the ball across the front of the goal. Serkan Durna, angling to the goal from the left side, converted the cross into his third goal of the season when he touched it in with his right foot and drove it inside the left post.
 
Shortly before the halftime horn sounded, East Bay's Ivan Campos headed in a ball that came from left of the goal, tying the score at one goal apiece.
 
In the 55th minute, Westmont's Logan Race was whistled for a foul as he attempted to slide for the ball. He was shown a red card by the center referee before exiting the field. As a result, Westmont played the final 35 minutes a man down.
 
Ten minutes later the Pioneers' Eugenio Perez-Vera Merino sent a ball over the top from six yards past the centerline. Jonas Banouas got on the end of the service and headed it into the goal, putting East Bay up 2-1.
 
"To concede a goal when you are down a man, it is so easy to give up hope and belief," noted Cathey. "You can see that is not a part of our team.
 
"Defensively, we lost a man and then only gave up two shots on goal in the last 35 minutes. I think we had eight shots on goal during that period. To see how our guys defended and battled when their backs were against the wall was amazing."
 
The score remained unchanged until the 81st minute when Guerrero scored the first of his two goals. Anderholt sent a ball from the right flank to the middle of the pitch where it found Cole Lomeli. The senior midfielder forwarded the ball to Olivo Ortiz who one-touched it forward. Guerrero took the ball on the run and dribbled to the top of the 18-yard box, where he fired with his left foot. East Bay's keeper got a finger on it, but could not keep the ball from bouncing into the right crease.
 
The game winner came just four minutes later. Durna won a ball at the end line to the right of the goal. He passed the ball in front of the goal where freshman midfielder Geb Wilcox touched it to Guerrero who was slightly to his left. Guerrero dribbled left, then powered the ball into the upper left corner with his left foot.
 
"It was an unbelievable individual effort from Erik to get both the goals," praised Cathey. "There is not one player that I couldn't say something positive about today. Every single guy was incredible and I am so proud of our guys."
 
The Warriors return from the Bay Area only to head south to San Diego on Saturday to take on the Sea Lions of Point Loma in a non-conference match-up. The game will serve as a final tune-up before PacWest play begins on Thursday, October 2.