Freshman midfielder Isaac Thompkins took only one shot during the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament first round game between Westmont and Concordia on Wednesday afternoon in Irvine. However, it proved to be the only shot which mattered as the Warriors defeated the Eagles by a score of 1-0 in overtime.
As a result, the Warriors will advance to the semifinals on Saturday to take on The Master's in a two o'clock game in Santa Clarita. The Master's, which is seeded number one and ranked at number seven, defeated California Baptist by a score of 1-0 on a goal in the fourth minute by Joel Peluffo.
"It is always fun to win on the road," said junior forward Daniel Torres who was awarded an assist on the Warriors' goal. "The tournament just makes it that much better."
The Warriors seemed to struggle to find their pace as the game began.
"In the first half we dodged some bullets," acknowledged Westmont Head Coach Dave Wolf. "I didn't think we played badly, but I thought Concordia was really sharp."
Westmont goalkeeper Mat McNab helped keep the Warriors in the game with three first half saves, including a spectacular save in the nineteenth minute. The Eagle's Jon Fahey fired a low shot to the far post from 10 yards out on the right-hand side . McNab lunged to his right knocking the ball away from the goal and ending Concordia's threat.
"I came out (of the goal) just enough," said McNab. "Fortunately he shot it within my reach."
Two minutes later senior defender Justin Miller came to the Warriors' rescue on a heads-up play. McNab got his hands on a cross from the right side of the field but the ball came loose in front of the goal with Concordia's Mickey Mendoza charging hard toward the ball. Miller charged as well and a split second before Mendoza could fire off a shot into an empty net, Miller kicked the ball toward the end line. The ball glanced off Mendoza on its way out of bounds, giving the Warriors a goal kick.
"Probably the most important moment in that game was the ball that Justin saved off the line," said Wolf. "That was a captain's moment of just not giving up."
The game began to turn around for the Warriors after intermission as Westmont and Concordia each took six second-half shots.
"We slowly worked our way into the game in the second half," said Wolf. "We started finding some seems and slipping some balls through. I wouldn't necessarily say we created a lot of chances because in most of the ones we had we never really got a shot off. Doug had a good look and Sarge had a good look and their defenders did a good job of closing it down. But I felt like we got the game on level terms in the second half."
But the increase in offensive presence did not result in a goal for either team, sending the game into an extra period.
"Right off the bat (in overtime), Torres laid a ball back that we tried to play him a little bit longer," said Wolf. "We didn't get a chance out of it, but I think it said, ‘we are still going forward and are still looking for the winner.' Against a team like Concordia, you could say, ‘let's just try to get to penalties and see if we can do it that way.' That encouraged me about the team's mentality."
Just a minute and two seconds into the overtime period, the Warriors got the chance for which they were looking.
"We stole the ball close to midfield," reported Torres. "Hugo played me at the top of the 18. I thought I was offside because I didn't have anyone close to me. When I realized I wasn't offside, I saw Isaac on the left and played him through. I thought it was a little long, but with his speed he can get to anything."
"Daniel did a nice turn and laid the ball off to me," said Thompkins. "I was onside for the first time today. The ball came across and I just whacked it in. It felt awesome, really amazing."
"It seems like the trend of Westmont is to pick it up at the end of the season and into postseason," said McNab. "It is just amazing to watch these guys come together."
That sense of connection was shared by Thompkins.
"I came to Westmont thinking I would just play on a team," said the freshman, "but I found a family. We have grown together real well and are really starting to connect here at the end and work together."
