By Ron Smith
April 7, 2026
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) A 60-year tradition is about to get a facelift and at the same time benefit a local charity. Since 1966, Westmont Men's Soccer has played their crosstown rivals – UC Santa Barbara – in one of the longest traditions of Westmont Athletics.
 
For many years the game was played in August, but with Westmont's move to NCAA Division II membership, the timing has become more difficult. Seeking to find a way to preserve the rivalry while staying within their respective NCAA calendars, the Warriors and Gauchos will be moving their annual match-up to April. On Saturday, April 18, the Warriors will head to Harder Stadium – which turns 60 this year - for a 7:00 p.m. matchup in the Direct Relief Community Shield Game.
 
Direct Relief is a Santa Barbara-based organization that has delivered over $10 billion in medical aid to support people affected by poverty, natural disasters and emergencies, across all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 countries since its founding in 1948. Direct Relief also supports local community health care providers, from Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics to Doctors Without Walls-Santa Barbara Street Medicine. While the April 18 matches will be free for fans to attend, Direct Relief will be accepting donations to support their humanitarian efforts both here at home and around the world.
 
"The history of these two storied soccer programs provides a powerful backdrop to unite the community in support of a meaningful cause," said Westmont's head coach Morgan Cathey. "We hope this is the first of many matches that bring the local soccer community together."
 
"Direct Relief is honored to be recognized during this year's Community Shield match," Direct Relief Vice President of Community Engagement Heather Bennett said. "As an organization rooted in Santa Barbara for more than 78 years, we're grateful to partner with UC Santa Barbara and Westmont College on an event that brings our community together for a greater purpose... This game demonstrates the powerful role sports can play in supporting people facing poverty, disasters, and health inequities, helping turn the energy on the
field and in the stands into meaningful impact for communities in need."
 
The benefit is made even more meaningful because of Direct Relief's partnership with Sports Outreach International which several of the Westmont teams have partnered with in short-term mission efforts in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
 
Over the 60-year history, the teams have played 63 games. The Gauchos hold a 33-24-6 series lead. By holding the game in April, both teams will enjoy the advantage of school being in session. When the games were held in August, neither school was in session.
 
The vision for the event this year is that not only will both student bodies turn out to support their teams, but so will the local Santa Barbara Community.
 
"We are excited to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Harder Stadium by hosting one of the longest running rivalries in college soccer — UC Santa Barbara versus Westmont," Gaucho Men's Soccer Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg said. "It is fitting that a community game such as this would also serve to benefit one of our most impactful charitable organizations. We look forward to a fun night of soccer, which is what always happens when we play Westmont."
 
 
NOTE: This pre-release includes information and quotes provided by UC Santa Barbara Athletic Communications