The season opener for Westmont Men's Soccer proved to be a thriller, but in an overtime finish, #8 Graceland (Iowa) defeated the Warriors 3-2. The 2006 NAIA national champions picked up the win off the foot of Edson Edward who scored just over five minutes into the overtime period in the opening game of the Cougar Classic at Azusa Pacific.

"It was a pretty good game against a pretty good team," said head coach Dave Wolf. "But it was a disappointing finish after fighting back twice to time the game. It's a shame not to have walked away without at least a tie."

Graceland opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute when Diego Gonzalez headed in a pass from Jeffrey Darkwah. The Warriors did not even the game until the sixty-eight minute when senior forward Andrew Schneider scored off an assist by sophomore forward Harrison Hill. It marked the first goal for Schneider and first assist for Hill in Warrior uniforms.

"Jake Joyner got the ball deep in the box," reported Wolf. "He showed a lot of patience to resist taking a shot that wasn't there. Instead he laid it to Harrison who also remained calm and made a nice pass to Andy who finished it off with the inside of his foot."

Less than five minutes later, Graceland regained the lead when Darkwah scored assisted by Aaron Cairns. In the eightieth minute, Westmont picked up a second equalizer when Hill scored his first collegiate goal by heading in a cross from senior midfielder Jonathan Schoff.

"Schoffy beat Graceland's left back on the dribble and made a great cross to Harrison which just eliminated the keeper," said Wolf. "All Harrison had to do was head the ball in the empty net."

Less than two minutes before the end of regulation, Graceland's Orrin Branker suffered a neck injury.

"It looked like he was going to be okay, but they took every precaution," noted Wolf. "There was about a twenty minute delay while they brought an ambulance onto the field."

The Warriors will complete their participation in the Cougar Classic at Azusa Pacific tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. when Westmont takes on the Wildcats of Bethel (Tenn.). Bethel and top-ranked Azusa Pacific battled to a 1-1, double-overtime in the second game of the day in Azusa.

The Wildcats will be without the services of sophomore midfielders Erik Rosas and Armando Orozco in tomorrow's game due to red cards received in today's match-up with Azusa Pacific. Orozco scored Bethel's solitary goal against the Cougars.