WHITTIER, Calif. - Adolfo Santos tallied the equalizer in the 89th minute and Srdan Jovanovic found the back of the net just 2:30 into the first overtime period as the Whittier College men's soccer team shocked the University of Redlands, 2-1, and ended a 21-game drought against the eight-time defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions on Wednesday evening.

"This has to be the best game of my life as a coach," said head coach Paul Walmsley. "We preach effort from every man, all game, and that is exactly what these guys gave us."

The Poets (2-2, 1-0 SCIAC) hadn't tasted success against Redlands in over decade. The last time Whittier won was a 5-2 decision on November 4, 1997. Since that game the Poets had been shutout 19 times and managed only a pair of goals.

Whittier has three, four-year lettermen on the roster who entered the game being outscored 24-1 over a six-game span against Redlands.

"I'm speechless right now," said senior Joseph Gelaro. "This win is what it's all about. It makes it all worth it."

WC earned only a pair of corner kicks for the game but one was all it needed. Santos found himself in the right place at the right time as a blocked header off the Whittier corner found its way to his foot and eventually to the goal.

The game-tying score came at the 88:19 mark.

It didn't take long into the overtime period for Whittier to strike. The Poets rode the momentum from the crowd of nearly 300 and registered the game-winner at 92:30. Santos continued to push the pace for WC as he put his fourth shot on goal at 92:21.

Redlands' Evan Hobson made the save but the rebound kicked back to Santos who found a waiting Jovanovic. The freshman from Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herz., needed only to put the ball over a sprawled Hobson and he didn't disappoint.

"This is the best feeling of my life," said Jovanovic. "This is real special for the players, the coaches and the whole college."

The Bulldogs scored the first goal of the game in the 33rd minute and held a 1-0 advantage at the intermission.

Michael Read began the game in goal for Whittier and made one save. He was forced to leave the game early in the second period because of an injury and gave way to Paul Stepler-Camp.

Stepler-Camp made three saves which includes two on back-to-back shots by Jeff Willey in a one-on-one situation to earn his first win of the year in net.

Redlands (1-3-1, 0-1 SCIAC) last lost a conference game on October 29, 2007 (4-2 to CMS). The Bulldogs went unbeaten in the SCIAC in 2008.

Whittier returns to the Graham Soccer Field on Saturday, September 19, at 11 am as it hosts Pomona-Pitzer.