Westmont Men’s Soccer started off the 2026 campaign with a 2-0 win at Simon Fraser on Thursday afternoon. Senior Kristian Johnson scored twice for the Warriors, both goals coming off set plays.

“For the first game, you really don’t know what to expect,” acknowledged Westmont Men’s Soccer head coach Morgan Cathey. “You could see a little bit of the nerves in the first half, but throughout the whole game, we defended excellently. Even if there was something that wasn’t fluid, we made up for it with really good defensive actions.

“The opponent was great, but at the same time we didn’t give them much in the first half. Overall, it was a really good performance for our first game. I thought the goal we got (in the first half) was deserving. At the start of the game, we were in their box a lot.”

In the 34th minute, Luis Cortez challenged Simon Fraser defender Derek Ebel for a ball in the corner. Weston Ash came over to assist and the Warriors gained control of the ball. Then, Ebel picked up a yellow card when he pushed over Ash.

Tiago Aranibar sent the resulting free kick in front of the box where Johnson, the Red Leafs’ goalkeeper Harrison Gough, and defender Pablo Perera went up for the ball. After the three came together in midair, Gough went down clutching his head and did not figure in the rest of the play.

The ball popped out to the right side of the net where Leonel Olivo Ortiz one-touched a shot toward the goal. Defender Lachlan Macgowan prevented the score but sent the ball back toward the shooter.

Olivo Ortiz’s second shot rebounded off Nick Mackinnon and made its way to the top of the six-yard box, finding Johnson. The senior sent the ball along the ground into the left side of the back netting, recording Westmont’s first goal of the newly minted season.

The Warriors’ 1-0 lead was threatened in the 64th minute when Simon Fraser was awarded a penalty kick after a call of handball in the box. Koji Poon took the PK for the Red Leafs and approached with a stutter step before sending it along the ground to the left side of the goal.

Westmont keeper Aidan Stricker dove to his left, blocked the ball, scrambled to his feet, and lunged to his right to secure the ball before any Red Leaf player could get to it.

“It was outstanding for Aidan to come through and make a big play,” expressed Cathey. “I think it was one of the only dangerous saves he had to make in the game. To save, and then also to follow up and get on the ball before the striker could pounce, changed the game completely.”

Moments later, Westmont added its second goal. Micah Maljian served a corner kick from the right side that Gough punched out toward the left. The ball found its way to Aranibar who passed it back to Johnson at the top of the six-yard box, just outside the left goalpost.

Johnson spun around and fired toward the goal. The ball deflected off a Red Leaf player and into the back of the netting, giving Westmont a 2-0 advantage.

Johnson doubled his career goal total and matched last year’s scoring production in just the first game of the year.

“KJ is a joy to coach and is such a rock-solid defender and a great athlete,” noted Cathey. “Last year, we didn’t have him available until halfway through the season. It was really the last five or six games that he started to find his stride for us.

“He has been an outstanding performer for us over the last eight months. His performance today was well deserved based on his hard work. He is a great part of our team.”

Stricker earned the second shutout of his collegiate career and the second in as many games going back to last season. He tallied six saves, three in each half.

“I want to give Aidan so much credit for working so hard over the last eight months to be at the place he is at,” said Cathey. “It was emotional at the end seeing some of our players be rewarded for their hard work and perseverance.

“He is definitely one of those guys who has done a lot to try and become the best version of himself for Westmont and for his team. It was great to see him perform well.”

Cathey was also grateful for the return of Barrett Goodman, who did not play last season.

“To have Barrett back in the lineup for us was such a momentous occasion because of all the work he has done to get back to the place he was at before. He played excellently. He might have put a foot wrong once or twice in the whole game.”

The Warriors will continue their visit to British Columbia with a game on Saturday against the Saints of Saint Martin’s (Wash.). The game is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off.

“I think Saint Martin’s is going to be a really good opponent that will test us,” anticipated Cathey. “They had a great result today (a 5-0 win over Walla Walla at home), and I think they will be rested coming into the game. They want the game back from last year.”

The Warriors triumphed 2-1 in last year’s game against the Saints at Thorrington Field.

“I am really looking forward to that game, it will be another good soccer match,” said Cathey. “Hopefully, we just keep growing and taking the next step for us in reaching our potential. Today showed that we are closer than we thought, and yet it also showed the holes where we can continue to get better.”