COMEBACK KIDS

By Brandon Petersen

The Westcliff men's soccer team scored twice in the final 12 minutes Sunday night to rally past La Verne, 3-2, at Ortmayer Stadium in La Verne.

Adi Vaknin, Lucas Rosell and Mateo Chavarriaga each scored for the Warriors (2-0), who outshot the Leopards 21-9 and held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Vaknin's first-half goal, assisted by Jordan Di Lonardo, tied the match at 1-1 after Diego Soto put La Verne on the board in the 15th minute.

Israel Jimenez Ramirez gave the Leopards (0-1) a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute before the Dubs surged late.

Rosell equalized in the 79th minute off another Di Lonardo assist, and Chavarriaga netted the winner in the 86th minute. Goalkeeper Olly Scott finished with four saves for the Warriors.

"You know what? I thought it was a great game for us, especially to come back and play this team," Westcliff head coach Randy Dodge said. "They were very, very good. We were able to change up some things that we needed to work on and get better at. But overall, super pleased."

Dodge highlighted the play of newcomers and role players who stepped in.

"Matt Thornton was great today. He went in at left back and did a great job. Lucas Roussel did a great job for us. Mateo did a great job for us," Dodge said. "Those guys really stepped in. We needed to play well."

With the Warriors now 2-0, Dodge said the upcoming road trip to Ohio for the UNOH Labor Day Invitational will bring another test.

Westcliff faces the No. 4 team in the country Saturday at 10 a.m.: Cumberlands of Kentucky.

"We're going to have to change some other things tactically and batten down the hatches because the real men are coming for us," Dodge said. "It's going to be a battle royale."

On Monday, the Warriors will travel to Northwestern Ohio, before returning home next Saturday for a showdown with Eastern Oregon at the Great Park.