California Baptist University
Hawaii Pacific
FIT TO BE TIED
9/19/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
HONOLULU, Hawaii --- California Baptist University scored twice in the first half and then had to scramble to hold on for what turned out to be a wild 3-3 tie at Hawaii Pacific Friday in the final game of a three-game trip through Hawaii.
The tie is the Lancers' first of the season as they complete non-conference play at 4-2-1. The Sea Warriors are now 2-3-1.
“As a whole, this was a very beneficial trip for the guys, especially from a chemistry standpoint,” said Jorden, whose team went 1-1-1 on the weeklong trip. “They guys feel like they lost today, because they never trailed, yet didn't win. They are frustrated, because they know they let a win slip away, but we took another step in the right direction.”
After experiencing sunny skies all week, the skies darkened today and at times assaulted the island with heavy downpours. Still, the Lancers were able to strike twice in the first 45 minutes, just 5:24 apart, to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Chris Dierker got things started with his first goal of the year off an assist from Gabriel Gonzalez in the 25th minute. Then in the 30th minute, Osvaldo Bastida and Tim Wardell hooked up for Bastida's team-leading fourth goal of the season.
Just 5:27 into the second half, though, the Sea Warriors cut the deficit in half.
“We just didn't match their intensity coming out of the break,” said Jorden.
However, right when it seemed the Lancers had lost all momentum, second-half substitute Jared Dusha saw his first action of the season and responded with his first career goal in the 68th minute that gave the Lancers what seemed like an insurmountable 3-1 lead.
“Jared came in and did a great job in the middle of the field today,” said Jorden. “I wanted him to bring us a physical element in the middle, and he did just that.”
The Lancers were just minutes away from sneaking out of the islands with their second win in three games when the Sea Warriors scored in the 79th minute and then tied it late in the 86th minute. The teams played two scoreless overtime periods, having to settle with a draw.
HPU actually out-shot the Lancers, 14-9, including a 5-3 mark in overtime.
“We just didn't do enough defensively, especially in one-v-one situations today, and we paid for it,” said Jorden. “If anything, though, this trip is experience in the bank all the way down the line for us. Hopefully, we can tuck this away and use it to our advantage when we begin conference play next week.”
The Lancers begin GSAC action next Saturday (Sept. 27) at the NAIA's No. 16-ranked Concordia.
