After going up 1-0 over the Lions of Vanguard University (3-3-1. 1-0 GSAC) in the sixty-seventh minute of play, #23 Westmont Men's Soccer (3-3, 1-0 GSAC) gave up one goal in regulation and another in double overtime to suffer a heartbreaking loss on Saturday at Russ Carr Field.
"I've never had so many difficult loses, and this one just about topped them all. It was a very hard loss to take," admitted Westmont head coach Dave Wolf."
The Warriors struggled in the first half with a Lion's team that proved to be quick to the ball and physical in nature.
"I think there was definitely a sense that we had to survive the first half," offered Wolf. "I thought Vanguard was more physical than we were and their transition game was better than ours was. We were scrambling in the first half. We found a couple of positive things, but for the most part we were thankful to be level at half time.
"I thought the second half we played well, despite the result," continued Wolf. "I liked some of the football that we played. We tucked one away and had some other opportunities. I was real pleased that we produced some of what we did in the second half. I think it showed the team's capability to make an adjustment or two."
Jonathon Schoff scored the Warrior's goal in a scramble in front of the Lion's goal. Schoff was able to punch in the ball from about 10 yards out to put the Warriors ahead.
But less than four minutes later, a scramble in front of the Warriors' net resulted in a goal by Ryan Marquez for Vanguard. Marquez managed to get a toe on the ball and poke it in from a yard away.
The game winner came with just 1:18 remaining on the clock in double overtime. Ryan Kenney intercepted an errant Warrior pass in the middle of the field and Vanguard suddenly had a three-man breakaway with no one to stop them but Westmont goalkeeper Justin Etherton. Etherton came out of the goal, but was unable to take away the ball. Eric Nutter poked the ball past the keeper and into the net to end the game.
Westmont will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Santa Clarita to take on the Mustang's of The Master's College (4-0-2, 0-0-1 GSAC). Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
