California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
COUGARS EDGE LANCERS
10/11/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- California Baptist University played some of its best soccer of the season, but the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Azusa Pacific got the game's only goal midway through the second half and then held on for a 1-0 GSAC win Saturday.
The loss is just the Lancers' second in the past six games as they fall to 5-4-2 overall, 1-2-1 (4 points) GSAC. The Cougars win their sixth straight and improve to 7-2-2, 4-0-0 (12 points).
Right from the get-go the Lancers went toe-to-toe with the defending national champions. In fact, the Lancers out-shot the Cougars, 12-11, on the game, including a 5-4 advantage in a scoreless first half.
The teams combined for just four shots on goal, two apiece.
“We almost got there today,” said CBU first-year Head Coach Ryan Jorden. “I was really pleased with the performance today, and outside of the first 15 minutes of the second half, we played very well and took a step. Against the best team in this conference, which is the best conference in the nation, we took a step in the right direction.”
In the 65th minute of a scoreless game, Alex Earl received the ball from Dana Yoshizu in the middle of the area. An unmarked Earl beat CBU keeper Jeff Redinger for his sixth goal of the season and what turned out to be the only goal in the 90 minutes.
The Lancers desperately pushed forward for the equalizer, forcing Tyler Stromberg to make both of his saves in the final 15 minutes. The Lancers even had a free kick just outside the box in the 88th minute, but Gabriel Gonzalez's attempt was blocked by the wall. The Cougars are the top defensive unit in the GSAC, giving up less than 0.50 goals per game.
"We had two great chances there towards the end to force overtime,” said Jorden. “The guys aren't happy with the result, and I don't expect them to be. I expect them to be disappointed, because they felt like they had a chance. We showed a quality today that we can play with anybody, and now we just have to apply that to our final six games, starting Tuesday.”
The Lancers host Point Loma Nazarene Tuesday (Oct. 14) at 3 p.m.
