Lancers Turn on Pressure Late Against No. 7 Air Force

Sunday, October 7

Riverside, Calif.

1:00 PM

California Baptist University

5-7-1, 1-4-0WAC

Air Force

11-2-0, 4-1-0WAC

Air Force

California Baptist

Photo by: Danielle Lutjens

Lancers Turn on Pressure Late Against No. 7 Air Force

10/7/2018 3:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Sammi Wellman, Director of Sports Information

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — California Baptist University put on the pressure late, but couldn't complete the comeback to drop a 3-1 battle to No. 7-ranked Air Force Sunday afternoon.

The Lancers, who have faced the top echelon of the Western Athletic Conference to open conference action, fall to 5-7-1 overall and 1-4-0 in the WAC. The Falcons improve to 11-2-0 on the year, 4-1-0 in conference to stay sitting in first place.

"On the balance of play today, we gave as good as we got and there are a lot of guys who should feel very good about their performance," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "That team is very, very good and started eight seniors to our one. But right now we are being undone by giving away really bad goals and to walk in at halftime two goals down, based on how the game had gone, is really hard to accept."

The Lancers pressured from the get-go, creating dangerous breakaway opportunities right away, but just couldn't seem to put them on frame.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Air Force took advantage of two defensive miscues from the CBU backline to take a 2-0 lead at halftime.

Gage Rogers had to make three saves to start the second half, but the Falcons capitalized again in the 56^th minute to up their lead to 3-0. With over 30 minutes to play, CBU kept fighting, looking to find the back of the net.

In the 75^th minute, Preston Judd had a chance from close range inside the box, but it was just wide. Two minutes later, however, the Lancers got what they were looking for. Brian Gonzalez sent a cross in toward the penalty spot, where Judd let it go through his legs and onto the back post where Oliver Bryneus buried it, 3-1.

"As good as Air Force is, you have to make them earn their goals, but we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot," said Michaelson. "Our response was good and at 3-1 they were really hanging on. We were very close numerous times to making it 3-2 and then it's really game on. The key for the guys is to take heart from so many positives about our performance and cut out the mistakes leading to bad goals that have been our Achilles heel. If we can do that, then we will win a lot of our remaining games."

It was pretty much all Lancers from there as the home team had new found energy to try to even things up.

Gonzalez looked like he might break through in the 82^nd minute, sprinting onto a through ball deep in Air Force territory. The Falcon goalkeeper came off his line to try to clear it, but Gonzalez beat him to the ball. His shot was just too high, however.

Three minutes later, CBU drew a free kick about 30 yards out and George Ionascu passed a quick restart over to Bryneus. He got the shot off on frame, but the Air Force goalkeeper managed to make the save to seal the 3-1 result for the Falcons.

CBU heads out on the road for three-straight road games, first taking on San Jose State next Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. kick off.