California Baptist University
Simon Fraser
Oh, Canada
11/15/2013 5:37:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – It was a battle of strengths when California Baptist University made its debut in the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament against Simon Fraser.
With a defense that stacks up with some of the best in the nation, the Lancers looked to defuse Simon Fraser's potent offensive attack. Unfortunately for CBU, the Clan's plan won out in a 5-0 victory Thursday night on the campus of Cal State L.A.
“Simon Fraser is by far the best team we've played all year,” said head coach Gregg Schroeder. “They scored three of the nicest goals I have seen in a long time in any game – that's really hard to play against.”
CBU ends the season at 10-6-1. Simon Fraser improves to 16-2-1 and will return to Cal State L.A. to face the host Golden Eagles in the next round Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Clan brought the No. 2 statistically scoring offense among NCAA Division II squads into the game and lived up to the billing. Simon Fraser averaged 3.44 goals a game heading into the match and outperformed its average, with Alex Rowley scoring twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Colin Jacques, Alexander Kleefeldt and Ryan Dhillon also scored for the Clan.
It proved too much for a CBU defense that also had national standings this season. The Lancers boasted a 0.41 shutout percentage and allowed just 0.97 goals against average coming into the postseason, with those respective marks ranking tied for 34th and 42nd in the nation.
The Clan got going early, forcing CBU goalkeeper Joey Pacheco to make both of his saves in the first 10 minutes of the game.
The first goal was scored in the first 15 minutes as Kleefeldt ripped his shot from about 30 yards out after an attempted CBU clearance rolled straight to him, sending it into the top left corner.
CBU nearly answered right back, as the Lancers fired off three shots over the next four minutes. The best look came on a Josh Robinson shot that sailed just over the crossbar in the 18th minute.
Ten minutes before halftime, the Clan struck again. Carlo Basso won a scrum for a 50-50 ball and laid it off to Rowley. Rowley bended the shot from just outside the top left corner of CBU's box, off the right post and across the goal line.
The Clan found the back of the net twice more before halftime, putting the score at 4-0 at the break.
Offensively, CBU picked up in the second half and outshot Simon Fraser, 9-4, after giving up nine shots and producing three of its own in the first 45 minutes, but couldn't break through the Clan's defensive wall.
The Clan got their final goal at the 55th-minute mark to cap the game with the 5-0 SFU victory.
While a disappointing ending, Schroeder was proud of the season his squad put together and the way his team did not stop fighting Thursday.
“It's very difficult to be down and give up goals in the fashion that we did and continue playing hard,” Schroeder said. “I am very proud our guys. Until the 90th minute, they gave it all they had. I am very proud of who they're becoming as men and these are learning moments, hopefully we can learn from them.”
