(Valhalla, NY) - For the hundreds of fans who attended the first-ever Homecoming Soccer game for Westchester Community College, there was even more offered than what was bargained for when Nassau Community College - the third-ranked team in the nation - squared off with Westchester CC - the nation's eighth-ranked team on Saturday: A festive atmosphere, two nationally ranked powerhouses playing up-tempo soccer, beautiful weather, and a second-half fireworks display that would have made the Grucci family proud.

And while Nassau CC staved off a heroic second-half comeback bid from the Vikings and held on for a 5-3 win, if Westchester proved anything, it is that WCC not only is in the hunt for Region XV supremacy, but can compete with the very best that the NJCAA has to offer.

Three different Vikings found the back of the net during a wild second half, and freshman goalkeeper Guilherme Griza (Novo Hamburgo-RS (Brazil)/Colegio Marista Pio XII) made eight saves, but the effort was not quite enough as Westchester fell to 5-2 overall, and 3-2 in Region XV play with the loss during a game played on the turf at nearby Valhalla High School.

The early going did not seem to call for a dramatic final 45 minutes as the region-leading Lions (6-1, 3-0 Region XV) seemed to put the game away during a 14-minute stretch of the first half when Nassau scored at 25:49, 35:04, and 39:43 to take a 3-0 lead that remained that way into halftime. During the first 45 minutes, Nassau out-shot the Vikings 14-5, and controlled possession for much of the first half.

From the opening whistle of the second half, things seemed to change. Two early chances for the Vikings were thwarted by Nassau, but Franco Ladron De Guevarra (White Plains, NY/White Plains HS) put Westchester on the board at 50:44, blasting home a terrific pass from Miguel Perez (Montrose, NY/Hendrick Hudson HS) to make it 3-1. For Ladron De Guevarra, it was his fifth goal of the season.

At this point, madness descended upon the Valhalla High School turf. Incredibly, before the cheering for the first Westchester goal could die down, the Vikings found the net again, as 10 seconds after Ladron De Guevarra's heroics, Giovanni Gibaja (White Plains, NY/Johannes Gutenberg) took possession of the ball, made a move just outside the box, and fired a low rocket past the Nassau goalie for his first goal of the season, and the game was suddenly 3-2.

From there, Westchester tried valiantly to tie the game with Ladron De Guevarra missing a golden opportunity to draw the game even by inches, and Wali Azizi (Buchanan, NY/Hendrick Hudson HS) coming close twice in a row. As Westchester desperately tried to tie the score, and took a few risks to get there, Nassau pounced on the counter-attack, scoring a breakaway goal at 61:37 to make it 4-2, and give the Lions what seemed like some breathing room. However, Westchester was not finished. Less than a minute after Nassau's fourth goal, William Morais (White Plains, NY/White Plains HS) found Luis Galeano (Mamaroneck, NY/Rye Neck HS) with a gorgeous pass, and Galeano scored his eighth goal of the season to make it 4-3.

Once again, Westchester went on the offensive to try to tie, and one more time, Nassau used the Vikings' desperation against them. At 67:10, Nassau scored on another breakaway goal for the final tally of the day, and the 5-3 final.

After being out-shot 14-5 during the first half, Westchester out-shot Nassau 17-8 over the final 45 minutes, giving each team 22 shots for the game. Additionally, WCC had 14 corner kicks, while Nassau had eight.

The five goals against marked the first time this season that a team scored more than one goal during a game against Westchester CC.

Westchester now hits the road for four consecutive games, beginning with a trip to Orange Community College on Tuesday, Sept. 25 for a 4:00 p.m. Mid-Hudson Conference tilt. The Vikings return home for their final home game of the regular season on Oct. 9 when the Vikings host Rockland Community College at 4:00 p.m.