… and the remarkable story continues. After winning the Golden State Athletic Conference championship last Monday by defeating Azusa Pacific 2-0, #24 Westmont Men's Soccer finally played their first home game of the post-season – well, something of a home game. The Warriors (11-6-2) hosted Holy Names (15-4) at Harder Stadium on the campus of UC Santa Barbara in a 2008 NAIA National Championship Opening Round game. Playing in front of 2,000 fans, the Warriors won the emotionally charged and well contested game by a score of 3-2 in double-overtime.

Nine days earlier, the Westmont campus suffered the loss of nine buildings, including dorm rooms and two academic buildings in the Tea Fire of Montecito. Fifteen homes of faculty members were also claimed by the fire, including that of head coach Dave Wolf and his wife Jill. Classes remain suspended and the campus is closed but students made their way back to Santa Barbara and joined faculty, staff, alumni and community members for one of the most remarkable games in Westmont history.

At halftime, Westmont paid tribute to the firefighters and law enforcement officers for their valiant efforts in fighting the Tea Fire. As the group walked to the center of the field, the crowd rose to its feet and offered a lengthy ovation to demonstrate their appreciation. President Gayle Beebe extended Westmont's thanks and presented Westmont baseball hats and an oversized thank-you card with notes of gratitude from many in the campus community. Westmont counsel Toya Cooper ended the ceremony by leading the crowd in the Westmont hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness."

The crowd was also treated to a well played game on the field. While Westmont out shot Holy Names 8-3 in the first half (22-11 in the game), the Hawks and Warriors battled to a 0-0 tie at the intermission. Just three minutes into the second half, Westmont goalkeeper Justin Etherton sent a goal kick past midfield which arrived at the feet of senior midfielder Jon Schoff. Schoff forwarded the ball to sophomore midfielder Anthony Niboli who one-touched a pass to sophomore forward Harrison Hill. From 15 yards out, Hill buried a shot in the back of the net, giving the Warriors a 1-0 advantage.

But the Hawks tied the game just eight minutes later when senior forward Milan Partenijevic blasted home a shot from 24 yards out, placing the ball in the upper left-hand corner. Senior midfielder Ricky Vargas was credited with an assist on the equalizer.

In the sixty-sixth minute, Hill received the ball in the middle of the field and rushed toward the Hawks' goal without a defender between him and the keeper. But Hill was taken down from behind by Victor Augustsson before he reached the top of the box. Augustsson was ejected, leaving Holy Names to play the rest of the game one man down.

Westmont took the lead again in the sixty-ninth minute after Schoff was taken down from behind in the box. Niboli scored on the resulting penalty shot to the delight of Warriors fans who relished the 2-1 lead.

Just two minutes later, the Hawks evened the game once more. Junior forward Mustafa Celik settled an errant pass from a Warrior defender and then scored his thirty-first goal of the season from 25 yards out.

The Warriors had several good chances to score in the remaining 20 minutes of regulation, but were unable to put the ball in the net. Westmont got off two shots in the first overtime period, but neither found the target.

Wolf made one change to his lineup at the start of the second overtime period sending senior forward Andrew Schneider back on the field. Schneider, known for his speed, had played the final 16 minutes of the first half but had not been on the field since.

Throughout the 2008 season, Westmont has relied on its depth and Saturday's game was no exception. The Warriors used five reserves in the game, two of whom scored goals. By contrast, Holy Names used only one reserve though several of their players were clearly struggling with leg cramps and fatigue.

Four minutes into the second overtime period, Niboli dribbled toward the goal and fired off a shot to the right side. Mads Aastrup, the Hawks' keeper, dove to his left, but the ball ricocheted off the post and back into the field of play. When Niboli broke for the goal, Schneider raced into the box from the left-hand side. The ball came toward Schneider who gently redirected it toward and empty net, ending the game on a golden goal. Westmont fans emptied the stands and joined the players as they celebrated on the field.

With the win, Westmont advances to the NAIA Men's Soccer Championship Final Site for second round action. All future rounds will be held at Fresno Pacific, this year's host. Westmont will face #21 Baker of Kansas (14-6-2) which upset six-seeded Park (Mo.) who was ranked at number ten in the final NAIA men's soccer rankings. Second round action begins on Monday, December 1 but Westmont and Baker will not play until Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the quarter finals to face the winner between number three seed Lindsey Wilson and fourteenth-seeded Mt. Vernon Nazarene. That game will be played on Wednesday, also at 4:30 p.m.