CSUN Manages to Break Even : Martin’s Last-Second Goal Salvages a 3-3 Tie With Westmont

Westmont College may only be a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics school, but the Warriors came within 17 seconds of defeating NCAA Division II power Cal State Northridge in a soccer match at North Campus Stadium on Wednesday night.

Keith Martin’s goal with 17 seconds left in the second 15-minute overtime period helped Northridge salvage a tie after it appeared that the Matadors (3-0-2) would suffer their first loss of the season.

Regulation ended in a 2-2 tie and Westmont took a 3-2 lead on Peter Bourland’s eighth goal of the season with 5:15 left in the second overtime.

Although Northridge had dominated play in the two extra periods, outshooting the Warriors, 13-4, Bourland got loose in front of the Matadors’ goal and lofted a slow rolling shot past goalie Mike Littman and defender Terry Davila.

“We were outplaying them,” Northridge Coach Marwan Ass’ad said, “but if you don’t convert your chances, it doesn’t matter.”

No one had more chances than junior forward Jim Hofferber, who had no less than five excellent scoring chances--two in overtime--but converted only one.

Hofferber’s goal came at the 85:53 mark and tied the score, 2-2.

“I should have put away two goals in the first overtime,” Hofferber said, “But I just took too long to set up.”

Justin Wall had given Westmont a 2-1 lead with 21 minutes left in regulation when he headed in a crossing pass from Darin Fishman.

Trailing, 1-0, Northridge tied the match at the 50:32 mark on John Alevras’ first goal of the season on an assist from James Hall.

Westmont drew first blood two minutes into the second half when Cees Molenaar scored on a free kick.

“They’re a great soccer team,” Ass’ad said. “But I was pleased with the way we played tonight. I liked the way we kept coming back. They would score and then we would score. I was impressed with that. We never gave up.”

Westmont outplayed Northridge in the first 45 minutes, outshooting the Matadors, 6-4, and frequently outhustling them for loose balls.

If not for a brilliant save by Littman, the Matadors would surely have trailed at intermission.

Westmont midfielder Mike Avery blasted a shot off a free kick at the 22-minute mark, but Littman anticipated it perfectly and made a diving block to his right.

Northridge’s best opportunity to score in the first half came three minutes before Littman’s save when Scott Piri tried to lob a shot over goalie David Buehring.