FRESNO, CA - Those in attendance for Wednesday night's GSAC men's soccer match featuring Fresno Pacific against Westmont might have thought they were at the Big Fresno Fair's Midway, considering the rollercoaster-of-a-game that was played for 102 minutes. It took two comeback efforts and two overtime periods for Fresno Pacific to finally defeat a tough Westmont team 5-4.
Freshman Paul Islas scored two goals and fired eight shots, while senior Vitor Machado also recorded two goals and five shots in the match to lead the orange and blue in the attack.
Westmont opened the scoring in the 16th minute on a penalty kick taken by Hugo Pizano.
The Warriors struck again in the 22nd minute when Andrew Schneider was first to a rebounded shot, and converted to make it a 2-0 Westmont lead.
In contrast, the Sunbirds came out in the second half firing on all cylinders. Islas netted his first of two on the day in the 49th minute after receiving a through pass from Machado, which he then slotted past Westmont goalkeeper Mathew McNab to make it 2-1.
FPU's Mihailo Jovanovic scored the equalizer just over a minute later with a well placed, inside-of-the-foot shot taken from 20 yards out that snuck into the corner of the Westmont net for the 2-2 score line.
The Sunbirds then took the lead in the 52nd minute when Machado scored his first of two on the day after completing a nice penetrating run with the ball that ended with an FPU goal.
Not to be outdone, the Warriors Josh Webb answered in the 65th minute to tie the game at 3-3 after finishing a rebound following a deflected Westmont shot initially saved by FPU goalkeeper Tim Nightingale.
Westmont College then took the lead again in the 72nd minute. WC's Isaac Thompkins converted a long cross sent to the far post to give the Warriors the 4-3 advantage.
And just like that, FPU's Islas scored in the 74th minute to record his second of the evening, and give FPU a lifeline at 4-4.
Finally, in the second period of overtime, the Sunbirds were awarded a penalty kick for an apparent foul in the box. FPU's Machado stepped up to convert the game winner for the 5-4 result.
"We're still unsettled a bit defensively and our youth and inexperience showed at times early in the match," said FPU head coach Jaime Ramirez referring to the two first half goals the Sunbirds conceded.
"With that said, the offensive intensity we displayed today while playing a 3-5-2 and 3-4-3 was very positive," Ramirez added. "We showed that we can go down a goal or two and have the quality to find a way back into game."
With the win the Sunbirds improve to 6-4-1 overall, and are 2-2-1 in GSAC play. FPU will host San Diego Christian this Saturday, October 17th. Kickoff is scheduled for 2pm.
