Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – It came down to overtime for a winner to emerge Wednesday evening as the Leopards of the University of La Verne edged the Whittier College Men's Soccer team 1-0 inside of Memorial Stadium. 

Whittier (4-10, 4-9 SCIAC) had a number of opportunities all night but couldn't seem to get anything to fall as they were shutout over 103 minutes.  La Verne managed to get the game-winner in the second overtime period from Luis Hernandez who got through a couple Poet defenders after receiving a through ball in the box before slotting a shot in the back right corner of the goal. 

Alejandro Trujillo (Buena Park, Calif.) had a great look on goal late in the game taking a strike from 25 yards out, but ULV keeper Josh Ramirez was able to punch the shot and deflect it up and over the crossbar.  Trujillo came down again minutes later and tried another attempt but this time from the 18-yard mark but again his shot would go just off the mark hovering just over the crossbar.

Whittier did have the advantage all night as they had a total of ten corner kicks with four coming in the second half and three during the first half of overtime. Unfortunately, the Poets couldn't find the back of the net on the opportunities they had. 

The Poets ended the game with a total of 23 shots with 14 coming in the second half with both Trujillo and Connor Tait-Mole (Livermore, Calif.) each taking six shots apiece. 

Nathan Armas (Montclair, Calif.) got the nod between the posts and totaled four saves against five shots. 

Whittier wraps up their regular season this Saturday, October 28 during Homecoming Weekend as they host Cal Lutheran University beginning at 5:00pm.