WHITTIER, Calif. – The goals came from all over the field Saturday afternoon as the Whittier College men's soccer team broke into the win column for the first time in 2026.
Nicholas Coop,
Kevin Bravo, and
Truls Wichstrom each found the back of the net, and the Poets held off Willamette University for a 3-2 victory at Memorial Stadium.
The win moved Whittier to 1-0-2 through its first three matches and kept the Poets unbeaten during their five-game season-opening homestand.
Whittier found the opening goal in the 20th minute.
Nils Degardin helped create the chance and found Coop, who finished for a 1-0 advantage. The assist was Degardin's second of the season after setting up Whittier's late equalizer against Redlands in the season opener.
Willamette answered in the 42nd minute, sending the teams into halftime tied at 1-1.
The Poets came out of the break with more pressure and took control of the match during the second half.
Whittier generated 10 shots over the final 45 minutes after taking four in the first half, while also earning six second-half corner kicks.
That pressure paid off in the 62nd minute.
Guillermo Ramirez set up Bravo, who finished the opportunity to put Whittier back in front, 2-1. The assist was the first of Ramirez's collegiate career.
The Poets added an important third goal just over 10 minutes later.
Fabian Gluch picked up his first career assist by finding Wichstrom, who converted in the 73rd minute to extend the Whittier lead to 3-1.
The goal was Wichstrom's first in a Poets uniform and ultimately proved to be the game-winner.
Willamette cut the lead to one with a penalty kick in the 84th minute, but Whittier held firm over the closing minutes to secure its first victory of the season.
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