California Baptist University
Hawaii Pacific
Golden Gift
10/4/2013 2:56:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- California Baptist University has known overtime all too well this season, but for the first time, the Lancers came out on top, beating Hawaii Pacific 2-1.
It may not have actually gone off a Lancer into the back of the net, but a goal is a goal, and the golden gift extended CBU's win-streak to three games.
"I didn't think it was a pretty game," said head coach Gregg Schroeder. "Both teams have played better games, but these are the games you just have to grind it out. That's what we did. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't fun at times, but it's something you just have to do."
Both teams battled in the first half to create chances offensively, but neither could find the back of the net. HPU had an opportunity in the 29th minute with a free kick on the corner of the 18-yard box, but goalkeeper Joe Pacheco came off his line to punch the ball away from danger and keep the Sea Warriors off the board.
Knotted 0-0 at halftime, HPU came out of halftime looking to score and found the back of the net in the 51st minute. Erik Kemsies served a free kick into the box, connecting with Jimmy Baggett to put the Sea Warriors up 1-0.
The lead didn't last long, however, as the Lancers responded in four and a half minutes. Chris Gaitan sent a long through ball diagonally across the field to Alex Anderson. Anderson collected the pass in the air off his chest and fired a half-volley shot off the far post into the net.
HPU had a chance to take back the lead in the 63rd minute, but once again Pacheco came up big to make the save and keep his team in the game.
As the clock wound down, intensity started to build as each team tried to find the go-ahead goal in regulation.
With less than a minute on the clock, and playing a man down due to a second yellow card offense, CBU's Braedan Pilcher had one last shot at preventing extra time, but HPU's goalkeeper managed to make the save, sending the teams into overtime.
In the 93rd minute, Paul Oliver whipped a cross into the 18-yard box, hoping to connect with one of his teammates, but a Sea Warrior defender was the first to reach the ball. Unfortunately for HPU, the cross was too much for the defender to make good contact with the ball, redirecting it into the goal to give CBU the 2-1 victory.
"The boys were able to fight through the adversity of the double yellow card and tiredness of overtime and finally get our first overtime win this year," said Schroeder. "That's what I told the guys before they went out for overtime. I said, 'Let's do something we have yet to do this year and finish an overtime game the way we know we can.' Even though the goal wasn't pretty, it doesn't matter how it goes in."
The win improves the Lancers to 4-3-1, 4-2 in the PacWest, while the Sea Warriors drop to 4-3-1 overall and 2-1 in conference.
After playing three games in six days, CBU is excited to get a few days to recover and regroup before the Lancers host Chaminade on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. kickoff time.
"It looked like guys were tired and struggling a bit today," said Schroeder. "When you get tired, you start doing things you're not used to doing. So on Tuesday, I'm hoping we get back to our style of play, back to the soccer we're accustomed to."
