Senior Doug Harrell scored two goals – including a golden goal in double overtime – to lead Westmont men's soccer (3-8-1, 2-3-1 GSAC) to a Golden State Athletic Conference win over Biola (7-5-2, 2-4) on Wednesday afternoon at Thorrington Field.

Harrell's game winner was the result of a hustle play by the Warriors. Zach George drove down the left side of the field battling a defender and succeeded in earning a corner kick. George kicked the ball short to Nana Akyen who served the ball to the far post, meeting up with Harrell who was rushing to the spot. Harrell headed the ball toward the goal. Biola's keeper got a hand on the ball, but it spun into the net to give the Warriors the win.

The game did not start off on such a fast pace, however. The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes due to mechanical difficulties with the Eagle's bus. When the game finally did start, it did so very slowly. Neither team had recorded a shot on goal until the eighteenth minute when freshman Sebastian Kent recorded the only score of the first half. Senior Zach George served a pass from the left side of the field to Kent who headed it into the net from ten yards out.

The Warriors would not have another shot on goal the rest of the half and Biola would manage just four. However, the tempo picked up considerably in the second half.

"Every time you got up to get a drink of water, it seemed like there was a goal being scored," said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. "It was about as crazy as a game can be."

In the fifty-second minute, Biola's Alex Kincade was awarded a yellow card. Then in the sixty-fourth minute, he picked up a second yellow card and was ejected from the game. A yellow card was also issued at the same time to Biola assistant coach Dan Thibault for arguing about the ejection.

Twenty-six seconds later – still in the sixty-fourth minute and despite Westmont being up a man on the field – Biola evened the game at one goal each. Zach Bautista kicked a ball off the left post and Julio Cuevas put the rebound in the back of the net for the Eagles.

The tie did not last long. Eighty-four seconds after Biola's goal, Harrell, with his back to the goal, took a pass from freshman Will Bobo. Harrell turned and shot, leaving his defender in the dust and the ball in the goal.

Three minutes and forty seconds later (in the sixty-ninth minute) sophomore Nana Akyen put the Warriors up 3-1 when he scored from eight yards out off a pass from Jordan Correa.

In the seventy-first minute, Thibault was charged with a second yellow card and also ejected from the game.

With the Warriors up by two and less than 10 minutes remaining, things looked hopeful for a Westmont win. However, Biola's Cody Shelton had something else in mind. In the eighty-fourth minute, Shelton scored on an unassisted goal from the right side of the field

The clock continued to click away with the Warriors up by one until with just 47 seconds remaining in regulation Westmont was called for a handball in the box. Shelton converted the penalty kick for the Eagles, tying the game at three-all.

Westmont lost the coin toss and was forced to face west during the first overtime period with the sun just above the horizon. Junior goalkeeper Matt McNab shielded his eyes against the sun while trying to keep the ball and the opposition in his view. Twice during the first overtime, the Eagles fired on McNab's net only to be denied by inspiring saves.

"Matt won the game for us," said Wolf. "He made two terrific saves in that first overtime that under most circumstances would have ended the game – especially the second save. The reflex save on the second was as good a save as you will see a goalkeeper make."

For the third time, the clock ran down to zero – this time, none too soon for the Warriors.

It would take just 54 seconds of the double-overtime clock for the Warriors to claim the victory by virtue of Harrell's goal. The celebration was exuberant!

In other GSAC games, #13 Concordia (11-2, 5-1) held on to earn a 3-2 win at Point Loma Nazarene (7-6-1, 1-5). Eleventh-ranked Azusa Pacific (10-2-1, 4-1-1) also won on the road, defeating #22 Vanguard (10-5, 4-2) by a 1-0 count. In Santa Clarita, The Master's (10-1-3, 3-1-2) recorded a home win with a 2-1 victory over Fresno Pacific (8-5, 4-2).

As a result of today's games, Westmont moves into sixth place in the GSAC standings with seven points; jumping ahead of both Biola and Hope International who are tied for seventh with six points.

"There is an adage in sports that it is not always how many games you win but which game you win," said Wolf. "The fact that Biola was two points ahead of us and we end up with the head-to-head (tiebreaker) – who knows were that comes out in the wash down the road. The same is true of Hope International."

Concordia sits atop the standings with 15 points while Azusa Pacific has moved into second place with 13. Vanguard and Fresno Pacific are tied at third place with 12 points each. The Master's has tallied 11 points to claim fifth place.

Next up for the Warriors is a trip to Costa Mesa on Saturday to take on Vanguard. Kick-off is scheduled for six o'clock.