California Baptist University
Grand Canyon University
Alex On The Spot
10/28/2012 1:29:00 AM | Men's Soccer
With today's draw, the Lancers are now 11-3-2 overall, 9-2-1 (28 points) PacWest. The 'Lopes are now 14-2-1, 11-1-1 (34 points).
The draw sets up next Saturday's winner-take-all rematch in Phoenix. The Lancers will first have to get past last-place Point Loma Tuesday, and if they can then the 'Lopes and Lancers will battle it out for the Pacific West Conference title next Saturday. The Lancers will have to win to win the title. The 'Lopes just need a draw.
"It's great to still be in control of our own destiny," said CBU Head Coach Ryan Jorden. "We were terrific today, but still have some things to work on. We created a ton of chances but didn't have the final product. The positive about that is we still have upside and places we can go to get better."
The 'Lopes, ranked No. 8 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25 poll, struck first in the 34th minute. Brandon Hansen took a ball from Adam Finnefrock and caught Lancer keeper Joey Pacheco off his line and from about 30 yards out on the left side curled a ball that floated just over Pacheco's hands and under the crossbar.
The goal snapped the Lancers' three-game shutout streak and was their first allowed in 312 minutes.
"This team has character, and I never doubted that we wouldn't be OK after going down," said Jorden. "I thought we were brilliant. We didn't change anything in the second half despite being down, because we were terrific. I knew we had one in us."
CBU out-shot the 'Lopes 18-14 and began to ramp up the pressure, looking for the equalizer. In the 74th minute, Marc Hope split a pair of GCU defenders and was taken down the in the box, giving the Lancers a penalty kick.
Alex Anderson stepped up and converted it, drawing the Lancers level. Neither team was able to score again and the game headed to overtime.
In the extra time, the Lancers had the best chance when Michael Salazar got loose on the left side. He slid a ball to the middle to a wide-open Chris Gaitan, who took a touch that proved to be too heavy, and his point-blank shot at an onrushing Joshua Zehring was popped up well over the bar.
Zehring made seven saves, including four in the first half to keep the Lancers off the board. Pacheco made five, three in the second half.
