California Baptist University
Seattle Pacific University
SCORELESS AGAINST SEATTLE
10/7/2011 4:37:00 AM | Men's Soccer
PHOENIX, Ariz. --- Seattle Pacific's Drew Williams scored on a free kick in the ninth minute, and the Falcons did something no other team has done this year in beating the California Baptist University, 1-0, in a non-conference game at the Grand Canyon Tournament Thursday night.
It is the first time this year the Lancers have been shutout as they fall to 6-4.
The Falcons, whose only losses are to Notre Dame de Namur (3-1), a team the Lancers beat earlier this year, and fifth-ranked Simon Fraser (4-3), improve to 7-2-1.
"We showed we can play some good football, but if you make mistakes against good teams you get punished," said CBU Head Coach Ryan Jorden. "Two mistakes consecutively in the first half led to the goal, and then we had to play from behind. You may create a bunch of chances, but until you score one you don't get level and then you lose."
Though the shots were even at 9-9, the Lancers had the more dangerous chances, yet couldn't find a way to crack Zach Johnson and the Seattle Pacific defense.
Their first great chance came in the seventh minute when Jonathan Garcia got in a one-on-one situation with Johnson, beat the keeper to his right but banged the shot off the post.
Less than two minutes later, the Falcons earned a free kick just outside the right corner of the area. Williams curled a perfect ball over the wall and inside the upper corner of the near post for what turned out to be the game's only goal.
"This team has yet to learn the lesson that not only do you have to play good football, but you can't make mistakes that are preventable," said Jorden. We gave up an unnecessary foul around the area, and when you let teams have a free kick from 20 yards out, you end up in the position we were in having the chase the game.
"For all the work the guys put in, which I'm proud of, we end up on the wrong side of the result because of the mistakes we made."
The Lancers had one last flurry in them in the final minutes of the game, putting continuous pressure on the Falcons, but Johnson came up with a big save in the 87th minute to keep the Lancers off the board.
Joey Pacheco ended up with three saves, including a diving save to his left midway through the second half to keep the game a one-goal deficit.
