California Baptist University
Hope International University (Calif.)
EXTRA FOR THE RECORD
10/20/2010 2:17:00 AM | Men's Soccer
FULLERTON, Calif. --- To put it mildly, California Baptist University's program-record 13th win was soggy.
Played in less than desirable conditions on a rainy Tuesday, the ninth-ranked Lancers scored on the only shot of overtime, a penalty kick, to run away from Fullerton with a 2-1 win over Hope International. The win is the Lancers' second straight and keeps them in sole possession of first place in the GSAC.
CBU improves to 13-2 overall, 7-1 (21 points) GSAC and now need just wins over last place San Diego Christian and Concordia in its final two games to claim its first GSAC title since 1990.
The Royals fall to 7-8, 2-5 (6 points).
"It is a relief to get three points today in tough conditions and on a surface that wasn't good at all," said CBU Head Coach Ryan Jorden. "I'm proud of the guys, who did an unbelievable job working hard to get a good road result in really poor conditions."
After 90 minutes wasn't enough to decide a winner, it took all of 4:21 in the extra time for the Lancers to escape. The Royals were called for a hand ball in the box, and Heitor Santarem stepped up and converted the penalty kick on the Lancers' 21st shot of the game for the win. It was just the Lancers' second penalty kick this year and Santarem put away his fourth goal of the season.
The Lancers, who rely on crisp ball movement and a speedy attack, were slowed by puddles of standing water all over the pitch. The out-shot the Royals, 21-7, including a 7-3 margin on goal and struck first in the eighth minute when Tiburcio Casillas took advantage of a missed clearance by the Royal defense and scored his eighth goal of the season from just inside the area.
The lead stood through the intermission, and the Lancers nearly took a 2-0 lead just 33 seconds in, but Jonathan Garcia's shot banged off the post.
Then, just 3:04 into the second half, the Royals equalized with a goal that typified the day. As the Lancers were working the ball around the back, a pass was stopped cold in a puddle of water. Matthew Howard ran onto it and hit it from 18 yards out, sneaking it past reigning NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Dan Kelly to tie the game at 1-1.
The Lancers out-shot the Royals, 7-1, the rest of the half but couldn't break through to end it regulation. Instead, they needed an extra five minutes.
"When you play in these types of conditions, you get the win any way you possibly can," said Jorden. "We tried to do the things we usually do but just couldn't, but the guys grinded this one out with a great effort."
The Lancers' 13th win is one better than the previous program-record originally set in 1994 and matched in 2001.
