California Baptist University
Azusa Pacific
Heading To The Finals
11/16/2012 4:55:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The first one was equalized. The second one wasn't.
Paul Oliver's diving header in the 49th minute broke a 1-1 deadlock and lifted the Lancers to a 2-1 win over Azusa Pacific in the NCCAA West Region Semifinals.
"I saw the play developing, kept making my run and Fausto played a great ball," said Oliver, who scored his second goal of the year. "It's a much better result than last time we were here. We did a great job in possession, keeping our width and killing off the final minutes after we got the lead."
The win, which avenges a 3-2 loss to the Cougars earlier this year and is their first in Azusa since 1999, puts the Lancers (13-4-2) into Saturday's finals where they will travel to Fresno Pacific, 5-1 winners over Trinity Lutheran, in the other semifinal tonight.
The Cougars' fall to 12-6-1, taking their first loss at home this year.
"We have a long history with Azusa Pacific and know that this game is always going to be a grind," said CBU Head Coach Ryan Jorden. "This is not an easy place to play at, but I'm proud of the way the guys got after it tonight and grinded out this win."
Just four minutes into the second half, Jonathan Fausto served a driving cross from the right wing into the area. Oliver ran all the way from his defensive position to the box and dove to head the ball into the net for a 2-1 lead.
The Lancers burned off the final 41 minutes.
The teams combined for just 18 shots; eight of them were on frame.
Alex Anderson caused all sorts of problems early on, ripping three shots in the first seven minutes. Two were saved by Cougar keeper Joe Geletko. One wasn't.
Just 4:56 into the game, Fausto snuck a ball over the Cougar defense. Anderson ran in behind and easily beat Geletko to the right post and early CBU lead.
Azusa Pacific equalized in the 39th minute when Keenan Armbrust got a through ball and into a one-on-one with Joey Pacheco and easily beat the newly crowned PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year to knot the game at 1-1. It was just the Cougars' third shot of the game.
Pacheco finished with two saves.
