By Ron Smith
September 4, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's Soccer held on to claim a 2-1 victory over Saint Martin's (Wash.) on opening day for both the 2025 regular season and the 16th Heritage Club Classic. Goals by junior Cole Lomeli and sophomore Logan Race secured the win for the Warriors.
 
"Overall, I thought it was a pretty cohesive game from start to finish," appraised Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey. "For us to give up the first shot-on-goal 62 minutes into the game is really good."
 
In fact, the Warriors did not allow the Saints a shot in the first half.
 
Westmont took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute on a combination play. Lomeli received a pass about 40 yards from the goal, then forwarded it to freshman Geb Wilcox. Wilcox took a touch and laid it off to Lomeli who was now left of center and about 30 yards out.
 
Lomeli immediately played the ball forward to Weston Ash, who was a yard above the 18-yard box in the center of the field. Ash, like Wilcox had done, tapped the ball back to Lomeli who ran onto it two-yards above the top of the penalty arc. Lomeli one-touched the ball with a blast inside the left upright, putting the Warriors on top.
 
"I thought Cole was really good," noted Cathey. "We changed our three midfield players. It was something we planned to do heading into the game. We thought the mix of the guys we planned to bring on was going to provide a greater injection to counterattack well out of pressing.
 
"We ended up winning the ball in our high presser. I think Cole and Wes combined really well for that goal. It was a special finish and I think Cole had a good performance throughout the day.
 
"Wes should have had a couple of goals today. He keeps putting himself in really great positions. I think his running off the ball is great as is his arrival in the box. I know he wishes he had a few chances back, but he puts himself in good positions and does a really good job to contribute to opportunities. He is consistently creating chaos in the box."
 
Westmont's second goal was scored in the 58th minute off a set piece. Senior Erik Guerrero used his left foot to send a corner kick from the right side to about eight feet out from the far post. The high-arced ball found the head of Race who had raised above the defenders. Race sent the ball downward and it bounced about one foot in front of the end line, then carried inside the left upright for the goal.
 
"It is really impressive how Logan has adapted and come into the team," said Cathey of the transfer from Azusa Pacific. "I have really been impressed with him on both sides of the ball, in and out of possession.
 
"After being injured in the preseason, this was Erik's first meaningful minutes for us. He played a little bit against UCSB, and today we got 50 minutes out of him. It was great to see him affecting the game the way he does. He kept picking up the ball in and around the areas where he is so dangerous. I thought his service for the goal was excellent. He is a special soccer player who can provide special moments. So, it is nice to have him back doing what he does."
 
The Saints' goal also was scored off a corner kick, with Cole Sullivan heading a service from Paul Lopez in the 76th minute.
 
"To give up a set-piece goal is disappointing for us," acknowledged Cathey. "It is frustrating, because I think it is a controllable in the game."
 
The Warriors sent 21 players to the pitch in today's game, eight of whom were freshmen.
 
"This is a special incoming class," expressed Cathey. "Eight of the guys who contributed to our first win of the season are freshmen. That is pretty cool.
 
"We went into this game wanting to get the most out of our depth," explained Cathey. "We subbed more than I have ever subbed in a game at Westmont. That was on purpose since we are playing three games in five days.
 
"We are hoping that our advantage going into Saturday is that we are completely fresh. The two teams traveling from the greatest distances, didn't play as many players. By spreading the minutes the way we did, getting key contributors 40 to 60 minutes, I think we are going to look really good on Saturday."
 
The Heritage Club Classic resumes on Saturday with Saint Martin's taking on the Sharks Hawai'i Pacific at 10:00 a.m. and Westmont hosting the Red Leafs of Simon Fraser (B.C.) at 1:15 p.m. The Sharks and Red Leafs tied today's second game at a goal apiece.
 
The reason for Saturday's early start time is to make room for the home opener for Westmont Women's Soccer, who will be hosting Cal State Los Angeles at 4:00 p.m.