The Westmont men’s soccer team is still looking for its first win as a NCAA Division 2 program.
The Warriors suffered their fourth loss on Saturday, falling to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 2-0, at Thorrington Field.
The Warriors controlled 57% of the possession in the opening half, but gave up a goal in the 43rd minute to fall behind 1-0.
“I think we did enough to win the game,” said Westmont’s head coach Morgan Cathey. “We created enough quality chances. Early on, I thought we exploited them the way we wanted to. I thought we weren’t as sharp in transition in the first 10 minutes while the game was a little bit chaotic, but once the game settled, from minute 10 on, I thought we were in real control.”
The Toros took the lead when Brandon Lee scored off a ricochet. Michael McKibbin received a cross from Kenny Lee and headed the ball toward the goal. Westmont keeper Brady Highfill prevented the score, but could not corral the ball. Brandon Lee got the ball at his feet and after wrestling for it with Highfill, fired into an empty net from two yards out.
“To concede a goal the way we did, took a lot of the life out of us,” acknowledged Cathey. “It was a very controllable moment we didn’t control. It came from a lack of communication, hard work and commitment. I thought their desire and their commitment showed more in the second half than ours.
“Ultimately, that is disappointing, but at the same time for our guys, now four games in a row, missing chances, being in situations and conceding goals like the first one today, I think it is hard to fight back. It is great that our character is being challenged in this way. That showed in other moments today in pretty big ways.”
The Toros’ second goal came in the 60th minute. After Highfill stopped a point-blank shot off a cross, Michael McKibbin gathered the ball near the end line and passed it back to Martine Velasquez who scored from 11 yards
“It is crucial that we learn every lesson we can from today and that we understand every lesson we learned from the last four games gets applied,” said Cathey. “Today, that was my disappointment. I don’t think we applied the lessons we have learned in as good a way as we can.”
Westmont will play its next game on the road, taking on the Cal State San Marcos Cougars on Thursday.