MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team dealt 24^th-ranked Westcliff University their first loss of the season on Friday night, beating the Warriors 4-2 at Bobcat Field.

The Bobcats (4-1-2) have now won four straight regular season games against nationally-ranked opponents since 2019 and are unbeaten in eight straight dating back to 2017. Friday night marked the Bobcats first regular season matchup against a Top 25 team since September 21, 2019.

Head coach Albert Martins' team had their way against Westcliff, scoring four times against a team that had given up just two goals throughout their first six games.

Daniel Borges scored twice, while Jesus Enriquez and Thomas Knierieme also scored a goal for the Bobcats. Borges added two assists.

UC Merced led 2-0 at halftime and 3-0 with Borges' second goal of the night in the 67^th minute. After two Westcliff goals, Knierieme put the game out of reach inside of 15 seconds with an empty net goal.

Borges' multi-goal game was his first in a UC Merced uniform. The junior college All-American a year ago, Borges scored his first goal of the night in the 22^nd minute by tapping in a cross from Kevin Capetillo. Xavier Barajas also earned an assist on the goal, his first of the season, sending a long ball down to Capetillo. Capetillo's assist moved him ahead of Ricky Rosas for sole possession of eighth in program history with 54 career points.

Borges' goal occurred on the Bobcats first shot of the game.

Opportunities were limited but the Bobcats doubled their lead in the 39^th minute with Enriquez's one-timer.

Enriquez was unmarked on the left side of the box and Borges found his fellow junior ready to let it rip. Enriquez buried his ground ball shot far corner past the diving keeper. Borges and Knierieme were credited with assists on the score.

UC Merced goalkeeper Brycen Miller made both first half saves he was tasked with and the Bobcats carried their 2-0 lead into intermission.

Borges extended the Bobcats lead to 3-0 in the 67^th minute. Arguably the most impressive goal of the night, Borges took the ball in the center circle and bolted past four Warrior defenders before firing from ten yards out. Borges joins Ceja as the first two Bobcats with a multi-goal game in 2023. Borges leads all Bobcats with four total goals, three of which coming on Bobcat Field.

Westcliff got on the board off Quentin Hornung's free kick from 25 yards out in the 69^th minute. Following the goal, the game turned into 10-on-10 soccer as a player from each was issued a red card due to a violent play during the process of getting the ball back to the center circle to restart play. Both players were shown a yellow earlier in the match.

The Warriors made it a one-score game with 93 seconds to go off a one-timer from John Adekunle adjacent to the penalty marker.

Inside of 30 seconds, Cristian Gaona sent a long ball down the field that pulled the Warriors keeper well out of the box. Although the keeper got the first touch, he failed to clear it leaving an empty net for the Bobcats.

Borges played the ball to Knierieme and Knierieme launched and scored from 40 yards out, putting the Bobcats up 4-2 with just ten seconds remaining.

Shots turned out to be equal on the night with both teams getting off eleven overall. The Bobcats placed six of their eleven on target, resulting in four goals.

Westcliff had eight shots on goal. Miller tallied six saves.

UC Merced won the corner kick battle 4-2.

A total of eleven cautions were issued.

UC Merced improved to 3-0 all-time against Westcliff with the win.

Up next, the Bobcats host Pacific Union College on Sunday, September 17 at 3:30pm on Bobcat Field.