California Baptist University
Fresno Pacific University (Calif.)
INTO THE SEMIS
11/4/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- All-GSAC Kylee Nicassio scored twice to lead the NAIA's No. 7-ranked California Baptist University to a 3-1 win over Fresno Pacific in the opening round of the 2008 GSAC Postseason Tournament Tuesday afternoon.
The win moves the second-seed Lancers into Friday's semifinals for the second straight season and it improves them to 15-3-1 overall, tying the school-record for most wins in a season.
Fresno Pacific's season comes to an end at 8-7-2.
The Lancers will battle either Westmont or Concordia Friday at 2 p.m. in Riverside.
“We're moving on to the second round,” said CBU Head Coach Kristen St. Clair. “Fresno Pacific came to play today. They are a better team than we played the last time, but we had a good performance today and earned the opportunity to play another day.”
The last time these two teams met, the Lancers had a goal-scoring party, scoring five times in the first half before settling in for a 7-2 win in Fresno. Nicassio scored a career-high four goals. Today was a little different story but had the same result.
Nicassio's two goals today give her 14 for the season. That is the most in a single-season since Sarai Stamper scored 17 in 2003. She also has 32 points, which is the most since Stamper had 38 in 2003.
CBU needed just its first two shots of the game to take all the air out of the game. Just 2:21 into the contest, Amanda Lammers received a through ball down the right side from Lindsey Merrett and hit a ball that sailed over FPU keeper's Justin Caldera's hands and into the net for a 1-0 CBU lead.
“It was nice to get on the board quickly,” said St. Clair. “We got some good work from our wide players, who were dangerous all day. We wanted to play to our strengths, and we did that.”
Just eight minutes later, Nicassio scored her first goal on a counter attack down the middle of the field. Lammers carried the ball from the Lancers' defensive third into the Sunbirds' half. She played a ball through to Merrett, who took a shot that Caldera saved. The rebound went right to Nicassio, who was charging the net. She easily walked the ball into the open goal for her 13th tally of the season.
The Sunbirds cut the deficit in half, scoring in the 69th minute. They raised their energy level at the start of the second half, putting more pressure on the Lancers, who out-shot the Sunbirds, 9-3, in the first half. They were awarded a free kick on the right side nearly 30 yards away from the goal. Shay Sample sent a ball to the frame that inched over CBU keeper Emily Evanson's hands and into the net to make it 2-1.
That score woke the Lancers back up, and in the 76th minute, Nicassio struck again. She received a ball on the right side from Merrett. She took one touch and then ripped a low line drive to the far post to complete the scoring.
One game after scoring a hat trick, Merrett served up a hat trick of assists.
"The good players elevate their games at this point in the season," said St. Clair. "She was very instrumental in us getting this win today."
The Lancers out-shot the Sunbirds, 17-13, and Evanson made four saves.
