Westmont College Warriors men’s soccer team played to a 2-2 tie against the Dominican University Penguins on September 26, 2026, at Thorrington Field in Santa Barbara, California. Despite dominating possession for much of the game and taking a 2-1 lead, Westmont was unable to secure the win after a late equalizer and a red card left them shorthanded.
The Warriors controlled much of the first half, holding a 59-41 possession advantage overall and spending 77 percent of that time in the opponent’s half. However, Dominican scored first in the 38th minute when Jake Kazlauskas found the net, giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Westmont head coach Morgan Cathey described the first half as the best his team had played all season and expressed pride in their response from the previous game, while acknowledging defensive lapses. “They probably deserved more than one goal in the first half,” Cathey said. “With the 10 shots we had and the number of opportunities, we definitely should have scored more.”
In the second half, Westmont took control by scoring two goals in quick succession. Cooper Matthews leveled the score at 1-1 in the 53rd minute, assisted by Cash Anderholt. Three minutes later, sophomore Micah Malijan scored his first collegiate goal, putting Westmont ahead 2-1.
The Warriors maintained their lead for over 30 minutes, with goalkeeper Aidan Strickler making key saves and defender Kevin Johnson performing solidly on defense. However, the match changed late when a skirmish involving Westmont player Logan Race led to a red card, reducing the Warriors to 10 players.
Dominican capitalized on the advantage in the 88th minute, as Nathan Freitas scored a free kick from 24 yards out to tie the match 2-2. Coach Cathey expressed disappointment with the game’s ending, stating, “It is unfortunate that the game ended the way it did because I think our guys did enough to win the three points.” He also acknowledged the team’s mistake that sparked the confrontation, saying, “We started a confrontation we shouldn’t start.”
Standout performances included Cole Lomeli and Luis Cortes for their strong first halves, alongside Matthews and Malijan for their goals. Goalkeeper Strickler’s vital saves helped maintain Westmont’s competitiveness throughout the match.
Westmont College will return to action on October 3, 2026, hosting Jessup University in a men’s and women’s soccer doubleheader at Thorrington Field.
CSB Take
Westmont College’s effort against Dominican University showcased their ability to control possession and generate scoring chances, highlighted by Micah Malijan’s first collegiate goal. Nonetheless, crucial lapses in discipline and defense late in the game prevented a victory. Moving forward in PacWest Conference play, the Warriors will look to refine their composure and capitalize on such promising performances to secure more wins.
Source: Original report
