by BRANDON PETERSEN
If this is what we can expect from Westcliff and Embry-Riddle Cal Pac men's soccer contests going forward, buckle up, grab your popcorn, and get ready for some incredible fútbol.
The Warriors and Eagles deadlocked at two following two scoreless overtime periods Friday night at the Great Park in Irvine.
Unfortunately for the home team, controversy marred the finish and potentially gave the Eagles a score they did not earn with enough time on the clock.
Down 2-1, Embry-Riddle found itself working the box as Westcliff SID Chase Dodge counted down the game's final 10 seconds.
When Dodge reached one second left, Embry-Riddle had still not scored, but when the buzzer sounded, Lucas Garcia simultaneously sent a shot into goal.
The referees determined the shot had beaten the buzzer and chaos ensued. Westcliff keeper Francesco Zanin was livid at the decision and made his feelings known immediately.
Both teams scrummed in front of the goal, heated words were exchanged, and eventually the teams made it back to their benches – Westcliff furious, Embry-Riddle relieved.
"At the time, I did (think the goal was scored after the buzzer)," Westcliff head coach Tom Lancaster said. "I'll have to watch the video. It looked like it was after, but the refs were adamant that it wasn't. The video will tell us."
A disappointing end didn't erase what Westcliff was able to accomplish in the contest.
Embry-Riddle (6-1-1, 2-0-1) is the class of the Cal Pac in terms of men's soccer, and with the Warriors entering their first year of Cal Pac play, many in the league didn't even know who Westcliff was.
They know now.
"We were ranked seventh in the league poll heading into the season," Lancaster said. "I think we've proved we're a bit better than that."
Indeed.
Westcliff not only dominated the scoreboard for the first 85 minutes Friday, but it scored both of its goals in beautiful fashion and peppered the Eagles box with shots all night long.
After a scoreless first half, Felix Kogler made it 1-0, Warriors, just 44 seconds into the second when he sent a screamer into net off a keeper rebound.
Max Juha Simonis set up Karam Idris with a picture-perfect assist that Idris slammed perfectly into net, making it 2-0 in the 67th minute.
The Eagles didn't find net until Chiedu Ikeme came through with a score in the 86th minute.
Westcliff outshot Embry-Riddle 25-20.
"This was a tough one to take," Lancaster said. "When you're up 2-0, you should get a result. We had our chances to put the game away and we didn't.
"On the positive side, we've shown that we can compete against the best in the league, and that's where we need to be. Can't wait to go again (against Embry-Riddle) to be honest."
The Warriors will get their next shot at the Eagles on Friday, Oct. 22 in Prescott, Arizona.
Zanin finished the match with six saves.
Elias Ammon had 10 saves for the Eagles.
Up next, the Warriors (3-2-2, 1-0-1) host Saint Katherine Thursday at the Great Park.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.
