Harvard Boosted by Late Goal

Anyone need CPR after that heart-stopping L. A. Baptist-Harvard soccer match?

Andrew Weiss, Harvard High’s leading scorer, probably would be first in line.

The Saracen midfielder scored two goals Tuesday in leading third-ranked Harvard to a 3-2 upset of No. 1 L. A. Baptist in a Southern Section Small Schools Division semifinal match Tuesday at Harvard.

“I can’t believe that we pulled this off,” Weiss said. “Our water polo team went to the semifinals and lost and our basketball team went to the semifinals and lost. I thought we were next.”

With four minutes left and the score tied, 2-2, sophomore striker David Moran scored from 12 yards after goalkeeper Jeff Hampsten punched a Greg Harlan corner kick in Moran’s direction.

Just five minutes earlier, however, it appeared that Harvard (19-3-4), which led, 2-0, was in the driver’s seat for its first Southern Section championship appearance.

L. A. Baptist forward Todd Cohen scored to cut the Saracens’ lead to 2-1. A minute later, Chris Herthel scored from 10 yards to pull the Knights (20-3-2) even. But Moran delivered the finishing blow four minutes later.

“All I have to say is that I wish (Harvard) hadn’t blown league so we could have met them in the final rather than the semis,” Knight Coach Mike Osborne said.

Weiss slipped a head shot past Hampsten for a 1-0 Saracen lead at the 26-minute mark in the first half. Weiss, who has 23 goals this season, fired another header into the net 22 minutes into the second half for Harvard, runner-up in the San Fernando Valley League.

Harvard outshot the Knights, 15-6.