California Baptist University
La Sierra University
OZZIE AND THE LANCERS
8/18/2010 5:09:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- There are difference-making plays that don't always show up on the stat sheet. Ruben Sanchez delivered one of those Tuesday.
In the waning minutes of California Baptist University's 3-0 win over La Sierra, Sanchez, who was inserted into the game at the start of the second half, stonewalled a Golden Eagle defender with a stiff two-footed tackle in the offensive third, won the ball and played it out to the right to freshman Jonathan Fausto, who promptly tucked away the game's final goal. At that point, the result was a mere formality.
Sanchez's tackle, though, epitomized the Lancers' second half.
"We talked at halftime about coming out and playing with tempo and being more physical, and the guys responded well," said third-year Head Coach Ryan Jorden.
Osvaldo Bastida scored a goal and had an assist, Jonathan Garcia scored in the season-opener for the second straight year, and the Lancers shrugged off a sluggish first half with a dominant second half performance.
The win moves the Lancers' unbeaten streak to six straight (5-0-1) season openers without a loss as they improve to 1-0, while the Golden Eagles fall to 0-1.
"We've been competing against each other for the past two weeks in training, and it's tough to find a rhythm the first time you play against another team," said Jorden. "It took us 45 minutes to find ourselves."
With a new-look starting lineup that featured four freshmen across the midfield, the Lancers turned to a pair of reserves to get them on the board, and it was Bastida leading the way assisting on the first goal and finishing the second.
After getting just seven shots off in the first 45, they nearly doubled their effort in the second half and needed just 3:12 to find the net. Chris Dierker broke free down the left flank, found his way into the box and slid a ball across to Bastida. The junior's shot caromed off a defender and fell to a waiting Garcia, who easily tucked away the game's first tally.
In the 68th minute, it was Bastida's turn. Freshman Alex Anderson niftily weaved his way through the Golden Eagle defense and to the left side of the area. He then slid a ball across the floor to Bastida, who was virtually in the same spot as Garcia was less than 20 minutes earlier. Bastida beat a helpless Gabriel Esqueda to the far post to give the Lancers a 2-0 cushion.
"I'm really pleased with the contribution from our young guys," said Jorden. "All seven freshmen played and contributed, and the experienced guys gave us good leadership as well."
Freshman Joey Pacheco needed to make just two saves to get the clean sheet in his collegiate debut. The Lancers out-shot La Sierra, 20-4, and the Lancer defense, which last year was the best defensive unit in program history posting a record 0.95 goals against average, didn't allow a corner kick.
