Chilly Finish

Thursday, November 9

Bellingham, Wash.

1:00 pm

California Baptist University

11-5-3

Sonoma State

15-4-1

Team	1	2	Final F
California Baptist	0	0	0
Sonoma State	0	1	1

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

11/9/2017 4:01:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — With snow on the ground and in a pretty evenly matched game, California Baptist University just couldn't find the back of the net to fall 1-0 to Sonoma State in the first round of the NCAA Division II tournament.

The Lancers, who won their third PacWest Championship to advance to the postseason, end their season 11-5-3. The Seawolves move on with a 15-4-1 record to face defending D-II Champion Western Washington on Saturday.

"I'm very proud of the team's work, fight and heart today," said Coach Kristen St. Clair. "This was a great game, very evenly matched and could have gone either way. Led by our seniors our defense was stellar and our attacking play created dangerous scoring opportunities in the final third. At this level the margins are very small, credit SSU for taking advantage of an uncharacteristic misclearance on our part. Our response to the goal was good, we rolled up our sleeves and went back to work and I thought we controlled the rest of the game, we were just unfortunate to not score."

CBU finished with nine shots, putting four on frame, but just came up a little unlucky on the finishing end.

Sara Escobedo made four saves in the game to give her team a fighting chance. She leaves CBU as the all-time saves (307) and shutouts (26) record holder.

It took a while for the Lancer offense to get going, but Desarae Felix fired off a shot that hit a Seawolf in the 32^nd minute. Haley Wheelon then put the rebound back on frame, but the SSU goalkeeper made the save to keep it 0-0.

Miranda Hald provided a spark off the bench in the 40^th minute, also getting a shot off on goal from close range on the left side, in less than two minutes on the pitch.

Less than a minute before halftime, Wheelon looked like she might give CBU the momentum heading into the break, firing off a shot from the top of the box but the goalkeeper made the save once again.

CBU kept pressing to open the second half, but it was the Seawolves who found the back of the net in the 72^nd minute, 1-0.

Desperate for an equalizer, CBU pushed everything forward, but time ran out before the Lancers could extend the game into overtime, resulting in the 1-0 defeat.

"Obviously we're disappointed not to advance," said St. Clair. "I thought we played well enough to win, but sometimes in this game the ball doesn't bounce your way and unfortunately it didn't bounce our way today. Nonetheless, it's been a tremendous season! Our team – despite injuries and adversity – consistently showed their quality, heart and grit executing and performing at the highest level and earning the PacWest Conference Championship. The leadership of our senior class leadership was instrumental to the team's success on and off the field. "