SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Saint Martin's University men's soccer team (1-0) kicked off their season on a high note, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Westmont College (0-1) in an away match held at Westmont College in California. The game, played on August 31st, was a testament to the team's resilience and the standout goalkeeping performance of Nick Mueller.

Head Coach Rob Walker captured the essence of the match, stating, "Grit is one of those intangibles that you want in your team because when you're fighting like we were today, grit can help get you the win. Sometimes, though grit is like sand that can wear down an effort. To a degree, we had both kinds of grit on display today." Coach Walker's insightful comment highlighted the challenging nature of the game and the team's ability to channel their determination effectively.

The game's defining moment arrived at the 16:10 mark when Angel Alvarado-Fajardo's expertly executed goal broke the deadlock, setting the stage for the team's victory. Alvarado-Fajardo's goal not only underscored the team's offensive strategy but also their capacity to capitalize on opportunities.

In terms of offensive efforts, the team tallied six shots, with two of them finding their mark. This strategic aggression applied consistent pressure on the Westmont College defense, showcasing the team's tactical prowess. An additional shot on goal from Zack Martin further exemplified the team's versatile attack.

Set pieces played a crucial role in the match, as Saint Martin's earned five corners, each presenting a potential scoring opportunity.

However, the standout performance of the day came from goalkeeper Nick Mueller, who Head Coach Rob Walker praised, saying, "The number one reason that we came away with a win is down to one of the great goalkeeping performances in my memory as a coach at Saint Martin's. Nick Mueller has really worked hard on his game and he was fantastic today. I'm so proud of not just the saves that he made, but also his voice and leadership helped us when things were really tough." Mueller's nine saves, including five critical ones in the second half, solidified the team's defense and secured their victory.

The Saints will take on Stanislaus State (0-1) on Saturday, September 2nd. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 AM on the campus of Westmont.