The No. 1 Apaches kept their perfect season alive and advanced to the national tournament in the process with a 4-3 victory over Western Texas on Saturday night at Pat Hartley Field.

The Apaches (18-0) came out in attack mode and scored three goals -- by Kareem Freitas, Kyle Nicholls and Dom Dwyer -- in the first 11 minutes.

Chris Dwyer, who had a hat trick, pulled Western Texas (15-5) within 3-1 at halftime.

Shaunovan Wilson converted a penalty kick to put TJC up 4-1 with 36 minutes remaining. The Apaches thought they were home free until defender Joe Setchell received a yellow-red, putting TJC a man down for the final 32 minutes.

"Getting the red card in the second half -- his second yellow -- that was a killer for us because that's what kept them so open the entire second half," Clements said. "We were just holding on for dear life."

After a string of more yellow cards on each side, Chris Dwyer scored off a header to make it 4-2 with 19 minutes remaining.

Dwyer converted a penalty kick to pull Western Texas within a goal with five minutes to play.

The Westerners had the ball in TJC's zone in the final minute before Nicholls cleared the ball across the midfield stripe to end the threat.

At least nine yellow cards were handed out in the intense match.

"It's one of the wildest games I've been a part of in a long time," Clements said. "We got up (3-0) and what you would have thought was safe, but they have two guys up top that can play. They kept them in the game. Those kids did not quit."