DIAZ HAS GOLDEN BOOT

Saturday, October 21

Riverside

1:30 p.m.

California Baptist University

Point Loma

10/21/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- There was a point in time as little as 10 days ago where it seemed as if California Baptist would never win.

Suddenly, though, it seems as if the Lancers have now forgotten how to lose.

Christian Diaz took matters into his own hands and scored the game-winning, golden goal in the 107^th minute to lift the Lancers to a stunning 2-1 double-overtime win over Point Loma Nazarene on a warm Saturday afternoon in Riverside.

The win is the Lancers' third in a row and keeps their faint playoff hopes alive. They improve to 4-10-1 overall, 3-4-1 (10 points) GSAC. The Sea Lions' winless streak moves to 5 straight, and they fall to 9-5-2, 3-3-2 (11 points).

“We've been playing pretty steady throughout the year, but we've made mistakes that have hurt us in the past,” said California Baptist head coach Shayon Jalayer. “We've shored those up and we're stabilizing. We're taking care of chances and keeping teams from getting easy goals on us.”

Despite getting out-shot, 23-14, including an 18-7 margin in the final 3 periods, the Lancers kept the Sea Lions on their heels for most of the afternoon. While the Lancer defense did a stellar job of keeping the Sea Lions at bay, Diaz capitalized on a PLNU miscue at midfield.

Diaz stole an errant touch by a Sea Lion defender, pushed it past a second defender and carried the ball into the box. With PLNU keeper Bryan Louzil charging, Diaz lifted the ball over Louzil and into the net for the game-winner, sending the Lancers into a frenzy near the corner flag.

The Lancers, who must win each of their remaining games plus get help from others in order to make the playoffs, came out full steam ahead. Just 7 minutes into the contest, Salvador Ramos sprung free in the box and rifled a shot which banged of Louzil. Fashinu-Ron Nesbeth collected the rebound on the left side, took a touch and then hammered his sixth goal of the year into the far post, side netting for a 1-0 CBU lead.

That lead stood through halftime, and the Lancers seemed headed towards a win in regulation. However, the Sea Lions turned up the pressure in the second half, out-shooting the Lancers, 13-5, in the second 45. The Sea Lions finally made good on one of their numerous chances when Tony Mercuriali ran onto a floater from Augustin Fonzeca in the box and beat Lancer GK Adam Kramer for the equalizer in the 73^rd minute.

Neither team was able to find the game-winner in the waning minutes of regulation or in the first overtime where the Sea Lions out-shot the Lancers, 4-0.

Kramer made a season-high 8 saves for his third straight win between the pipes.

“This is one of the best,” said Jalayer, when referring to the feeling after the win. “It keeps us in it for now. Even if it's just a glimmer of hope, we need to play this out to the end. Our goal is to win out and end on a positive note even if the playoffs don't happen. We're proud of the result today.”