Phoenix, AZ- The game of soccer can be cruel sometimes.  After seeing several chances just miss, hit the goal framework, or end with nice saves, Arizona Christian came up on the short end of a 2-1 result against Westmont on Thursday night.  Junior Anthony Archuleta scored for the Firestorm.

After the teams played virtually between the boxes for the opening 12 minutes, Archuleta rocketed the first shot of the game from the left side that had eyes for the net but Westmont's goalkeeper Lalo Delgado made a fully extended dive to his left to push the shot past the post.

Archuleta sent a shot wide right and then wide left.  Junior Luis Bobadilla (right), Freshman Miguel Vasquez (left), Sophomore Damian Sanchez (blocked), and Freshman Edwin Garcia (high) all had decent looks but could not capitalize.  In the 37th minute, Archuleta took a close range effort from the right side but was once again denied by Delgado.  Senior Roberto Valenzuela then saw a defender step in front of his shot.

The Firestorm (5-5, 0-3 GSAC) surrendered just one shot in the first 40 minutes with Junior Brian Booker making the save.  However, Westmont subbed in Francisco Castro in the 35th minute and he was a thorn in the side of ACU and as he attempted three shots (all needing saves from Booker) in the final moments of the half.

Shot number one of the second half for ACU was a driven ball off that found the post off the foot of Archuleta.  Sophomore Alex Segura had a shot blocked before Senior Ryan Scarpulla hit the next two shots (right and blocked).  Segura sent another shot wide.

Eighty seconds later, the Warriors (3-2-3, 2-1 GSAC) crashed in from the left side as Booker saved the first shot but left the rebound in front of the goal that was tapped home by Yazi Hernandez for the 1-0 lead.

The Firestorm had three more chances before a hand ball in the box gave ACU a penalty kick.  Archuleta converted the PK for his seventh goal of the season and the 1-1 tie.

Unfortunately, not even two minutes later, a misplayed ball by the ACU backline went right to Hernandez who took a few dribbles before sneaking a shot just inside the left post for the 2-1 edge.

In the 79th minute, Valenzuela rattled a shot off the crossbar but ACU would not get any closer.

Booker denied three more shots in the final minutes to end the game with 10 saves.

On Saturday, the Firestorm will host The Master's for a 3:30 pm kickoff at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex.