ELGIN -- On the back of a pair of goals from striker Ishmael Yemoh, Westminster Christian captured its first-ever regional soccer title on Monday, coming away with a 3-2 win over top-seeded Harvard in a drama-filled Westminster Christian Class 1A Regional final.

Up 2-1 with just under seven minutes to go, the second-seeded Warriors (16-3-1) got some breathing room off a counterattack when Yemoh got by the last defender on a long ball just past midfield and headed toward the net with only the approaching Hornets goalie in front of him.

"It means a lot to us," said the senior, who didn't play his junior season after coming over from Ghana. "This is the first time we won the regional and it's my first (year) playing for the school. I'm pretty excited."

The Warriors had to battle it out in the final minutes when Harvard's Alberto Martinez rifled home a free kick from about 25 yards out to cut the lead to 3-2 with 3:52 left.

Despite some tense moments, Westminster survived the rest of regulation, dumping a bucket of ice water on coach Mike Richardson to cap its celebration.

"It was frustrating that they got that goal on that free kick but we were able to refocus and come away with the win," Ryan Beachler said.

Harvard (17-4-2) got out in front to start the game, scoring just over eight minutes in on a header just in front of net from Ivan Pichardo.

"We knew that they were going to score on us, they're a very good team," Richardson said. "What do we do after that? (We) were ready for it."

Westminster's offense really started to click in the final 10 minutes of the half and was rewarded with a Yemoh goal off a corner from Ryan Beachler with 7:50 remaining.

The Warriors went up 2-1 15 minutes into the second half as Josh Beachler sent in a low liner from about 35 yards out that bounced off the keeper and into the goal.

Scott Sutarik had five saves in goal for the Warriors, who next play against Peotone (22-3) at 8 p.m. on Saturday at the Lisle Sectional.