FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
By Jacob Norling
March 25, 2021
 
(IRVINE, Calif.) #6 Westmont (4-1-1, 3-0-1 GSAC) earned a spot in the Golden State Athletic Conference championship game on Thursday evening, as they earned a 1-1 tie with Hope International (2-3-1, 2-2-1).
 
With Westmont owning the tiebreaker over the Royals due to their previous win this season, Westmont has solidified its place atop the GSAC West standings, earning them a showdown with the winner of the GSAC East next month. For the Warriors the tie, like the GSAC West title, was not easy and had to be earned.
 
Neither team recorded a shot on goal for the first ten minutes of the match, and then in the 12th minute disaster struck for the Warriors.
 
An over-the-top through ball from Hope International bounced in front of the Westmont eighteen, ten yards away from the nearest Royal. With his back turned to the majority of the pitch, Westmont centerback Zach Godeck attempted to head the ball to keeper Måns Ingvarson. What Godeck didn't notice however was a charging Baidy Ba who rushed behind Godeck just in case the one in a hundred possibility that Godeck did not see him was the occasion at hand.
 
Unfortunately for Westmont, this occasion was not the usual 99 out of 100. Godeck's header bounced into no man's land between the top of the 18-yard box and Ingvarson. Ba was already at full speed when he intercepted the attempted pass, and took one dribble before rolling the ball past Ingvarson into the back of the Warrior net. Godeck and Ingvarson appeared shocked, as the Warriors allowed their first goal in GSAC play to go down 1-0.
 
"Certainly it was an uncharacteristic moment between Zach and Mans," said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. "But I also think some credit is due to them for the pressure that they were applying in that moment. They consistently pressured us all game long and under normal circumstances Zach and Mans probably find a way to navigate that situation but in this particular moment that wasn't the case and they were able to capitalize."
 
Hope International threw their best punch at Westmont in the first 45 minutes, shooting eight times and putting three of those shots on frame. Ingvarson made two saves in the first half, including one in the final ten seconds.
 
Westmont welcomed the intermission as it gave them a chance to catch their breath after the Royals kept the Warriors on their heels for the majority of the half. Westmont did not record a single shot in the first half.
 
In the 64th minute, Westmont stole all the momentum the night had to offer thanks to the wit of Jona Romero. Westmont was awarded a free kick right outside of the Royal's eighteen and Hope's keeper Oscar Sierra was setting up a wall, expecting the Warriors to plan a set piece accordingly.
 
Romero pulled a rabbit out of his hat and played the ball to Aldo Becerril to the right of the not-yet-set Royals wall. Becerril practically had an open net to chip the ball into as Sierra had not finished developing the defense's structure. The Royals lobbied to the center referee that there had been a stoppage in play, and that a whistle was necessary to resume, but there was no reversal. Westmont found the equalizer and mobbed Becerril on the far side of the field.
 
"For both Jona and Aldo, the IQ is off the charts," said Wolf. "It's almost a telepathic awareness of the situation, just reading what is available and then having the ability to execute it.
 
"That right there was the mentor to the mentee. It's been great to see Aldo's development under Jona's tutelage. We all know Jona is not the most vocal personality but he's been showing Aldo a lot and tonight they pulled off a really classy moment together."
 
Both sides pressured aggressively for the remainder of regulation, but the defenses were able to stay composed enough to thwart each attack and keep the game tied 1-1 to send it to overtime.
 
In the first overtime period, neither team recorded a shot on goal, as both defenses held strong against an array of promising attacks. 100 minutes into the match, it was a matter of which defense would blink first, if either. And after 110 minutes, both sides proved unwilling to budge as the final whistle blew and the match ended 1-1. For Westmont, the tie came with humble satisfaction knowing their goal in the GSAC West was complete.
 
"When the pods were first announced, I thought we had a tough pod," Said Wolf. "And to be able to clinch a spot in the final with two games to spare is a really significant accomplishment."
 
Westmont returns to action next Thursday when they host San Diego Christian in their penultimate GSAC match at 3:15 PM. Live broadcasts will be available on the Westmont athletics website.