By Ron Smith
October 5, 2019
 
(ATHERTON, Calif.) Westmont Men's Soccer, ranked at number four in the NAIA, improved its record to 8-1 with a 3-2, overtime win at #24 Menlo (6-3, 0-1 GSAC). Westmont improved to 2-0 in Golden State Athletic Conference play and sits in a tie atop the conference with Arizona Christian.
 
Today's game marked the first time the Warriors found themselves trailing at halftime. Menlo's Giovanny Gomes scored in the 13th minute off an assist by Michael Weber to put the Oaks temporarily on top.
 
"It was a tale of two halves today," said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. "We weren't very sharp in the first half and Menlo was very good. They were better than us and deserving of being up 1-0 (at the half).
 
"We thought it was going to be a challenging day with our Thursday match and the road trip and the fact that Menlo didn't have a game on Thursday."
 
Menlo's lead didn't last long once the second half began. Less than three minutes in, Owen Bates was fouled in the box and Christian Webb converted the resulting penalty kick to tie the game at one.
 
The contest remained tied until Tyler Young scored in the 77th minute.
 
"Isaiah was on the right side of field near the right-hand corner," conveyed Wolf. "Tyler came across and headed the ball. It was served from the right and the finish went to the far post."
 
"The guys dug deep and made some plays in the second half that I wasn't sure we were going to be capable of doing on the day and under the circumstances," said Wolf.
 
Less than four minutes before the regulation clock was set to expire, Westmont conceded a penalty kick. Gomes took the attempt and scored to tie the score at two goals apiece.
 
The game winner came in the sixth minute of overtime. Young settled the matter by scoring his second goal of the game and his team-high seventh of the season.
 
Lucky Puengrod sent a pass back to Nick Ruiz who served the ball over the top. The ball took one bounce before Young ran onto it and headed it toward the goal. The ball bounced again before Young leapt and used a single touch of his right foot to redirect it beyond the goalkeeper who was charging forward.
 
"To be able to dig deep one more time in extra time and get the result was pretty special," admired Wolf. "All-in-all I give credit to the players for what they did. It was a day when they could have licked their wounds and gone home, but they weren't satisfied with that and they pushed really hard to get a result."
 
Westmont returns home to take on Vanguard (6-3, 1-0) on Saturday as part of homecoming festivities. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. following the women's game.