After falling behind early in the first half, Westmont Men's Soccer (2-2) put together three second half goals to earn a 3-2 victory over La Sierra on Monday afternoon at Thorrington Field. Gerald Ben scored twice and Nana Akyen delivered the game winner for the Warriors.
"I think you saw some character from the team as a whole and I think you saw it in Gerald and Nana as it related to tucking away their chances," said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf.
La Sierra's Dube Sindiso scored in just the sixth minute after receiving a pass from Roman Santiago. The goal proved to be the only one of the opening half.
Westmont got on the scoreboard in the fifty-seventh minute when Ben received a pass from Akyen and drilled his shot into the net. Twelve minutes later, Ben scored again, this time receiving a pass from Siemens on the right flank and going one-on-one with the keeper.
In the seventieth minutes, La Sierra scored again to tie the game at two goals apiece. Santiago beat two defenders on the end line, and then passed the ball across the face of the goal to Ruben Solis. Solis connected from eight yards out.
"It feels like every game is laden with so much drama," expressed Wolf. "In the coaching business, you understand that happens from time to time, but it seems like a regular, normal occurrence with this team. Maybe I should just accept that and move forward."
The drama increased in the eighty-sixth minute when Akyen was taken down in the box, setting up a penalty kick for the Warriors. Akyen took the shot going right, but Wade Dixon, the Golden Eagles' keeper, moved to his left and produced the save.
Just 42 seconds later, Nana was again in the box with the ball. Travelling from left to right across the face of the goal to avoid two defenders, Nana fired a ball back to the left side of the goal, finding the net and giving the Warriors the victory.
"There are a lot of players that would not have responded to having a PK saved in the way that Nana did," noted Wolf.
"The comeback feels good," acknowledged Wolf. "We have been in this situation a lot. You never want to get used to it, but knowing that you can manage it is another part of the experience. I thought the guys played a good second half."
Westmont outshot La Sierra 21-11 while placing nine shots on goal. The Warriors also held a corner kick advantage of 12-4, but were unable to convert any of those attempts into scores.
"There is a coaching piece there as well," said Wolf about the missed opportunities on the corner kicks, "and that is the rehearsal piece. Set pieces are boring to practice. Maybe this is a subtle reminder. Corners start with a quality delivery, hitting consistent balls into dangerous places."
Westmont will look to convert from those dangerous places again on Friday when they host Bethesda at four o'clock at Thorrington Field.
