SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Despite netting two equalizers, the University of California, Merced men's soccer team dropped a 3-2 match at Westmont College Friday afternoon in the 2019 season opener.
Westmont, who like the Bobcats entered the new campaign receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll, got revenge on their defeat last year in the same match and scored the game's first goal in the fourth minute on a through ball to Samuel Tuscano.
The goal marked the first of ten shots the Bobcats surrendered in the opener. UC Merced had their fair share of chances in the early stages Friday, including a shot from Juan Flores less than a minute after the opponent's goal and a corner kick in both the 10th and 12th minute.
Midway through the half, Flores was granted a penalty kick. The Fresno, Calif., native hopstepped to the ball and blasted it past the Warriors keeper to tie the game up at one. Flores' goal was the 18th of his career, putting him two goals away from breaking into the program's top five charts.
The Bobcats managed to get off four more shots before the horn sounded, but a few drifted wide and Agustin Guerrero's header was saved by Edward Delgado leaving the score tied at one.
UC Merced went into the break having peppered Westmont with eleven first half shots. Flores, Ricky Rosas and Andres Lua each tallied at least two.
In the 59th minute, Westmont broke the tie with a Tyler Young goal.
Two minutes later, senior Nicholas Sabbatini responded with a goal of his own on his first shot attempt of 2019. Senior midfielder Miguel Coronado was credited with the assist, crossing a free kick into the box that Ceballos managed to head in the back in the net.
After the equalizer, both teams struggled to get a shot until the 71st minute, a header attempt from Francisco Lopez that was wide right.
Making his first collegiate start, Livingston High School product Marco Sobrevilla kept the game tied with a save in the 74th minute. The save resulted in a Warrior corner kick, but the Bobcats defense played it well and kept Sobrevilla from having to stop another shot.
UC Merced and Westmont traded opportunities down the stretch, including a Westmont shot that bounced off the crossbar and a Flores shot attempt that was saved by Delgado.
Overall, the Bobcats outshot Westmont 18-10, 7-6 on goal.
Westmont's game-winner came with five minutes left in regulation, a goal from 20 feet out off the foot of Christian Webb.
The 3-2 Westmont advantage held until the final whistle blew shortly after. With the setback, UC Merced falls to 1-2-1 all-time against Westmont.
College of the Sequoias transfer Ivan Ceballos made his Bobcats debut, as did local products Christian Gaona (Golden Valley HS) and Jonathon Rodriguez (Buhach Colony HS).
UC Merced will remain on the Central Coast to complete the Heritage Club Classic with a match against The Master's University tomorrow afternoon at 12:00pm. Live video will be available here.
