California Baptist University
3-8-2, 2-2-1
Utah Valley
8-3-1, 5-0-0
CBU Battle WAC Leaders Utah Valley
10/12/2019 5:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Lancers created plenty of opportunities but ultimately dropped a 1-0 game to the Wolverines, who are in sole possession of the top spot in the WAC. CBU had three shots on goal and an 8-4 advantage in corners, but UVU scored a goal in the seventh minute that proved to be the difference.
"That's a really disappointing loss because it came down to one sloppy goal to give up and some really good opportunities missed on the attacking end," Coach Coe Michaelson said. "It shows the level that we are so close to playing at when we walk away from a game at a place like UVU and feel we really missed an opportunity."
The Wolverines are the only team in the WAC to have won all of their conference games, as they improved to 7-3-1 overall and 4-0 in conference. Utah Valley has conceded just one goal in conference, and it came on a penalty kick.
Utah Valley scored seven minutes in, as it pounced on a ball it pinballed inside of CBU's 18-yard box for a few seconds.
Outside of that, the Lancers' defense held strong. Albert Escuin was called on to make just two saves in the opening half, but the second came with 12 seconds left off a UVU corner.
✌️🙅♂️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 12, 2019
Albert Escuin makes a tough save in traffic during the final ticks of the first half to keep it just a one goal game.#LanceUp⚽️ pic.twitter.com/nIM4XyGa0h
CBU created its fair share of chances and fired off six shots in the first half. The Lancers' one shot on frame came from Brian Gonzalez, whose shot from just outside the box was brushed out by the fingertips of the Wolverine goalie.
🖐️⚽️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 12, 2019
Brian Gonzalez gets the first really good look at goal for the Lancers 27 minutes into the contest but is just tipped out by the UVU goalie. CBU trails 1-0 after an early Wolverine goal.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/M6AG1mKGqN
The second half was much of the same, as the teams combined for 17 shots, but only put five on goal. Escuin officially tallied five saves on the day, with three top-notch saves in the second half.
Absolute chaos on the goal line! Escuin fights and literally crawls his way to another save! pic.twitter.com/U9Z5z5pT25
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 13, 2019
🙅♂️🙅♂️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 13, 2019
Albert Escuin is making a case for best keeper in the WAC as he stops a pair of point blank shots inside the box!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Vj8eCM2Djv
The Lancers would send a flurry of shots toward the Wolverine goal inside of the 88th minute, but none would make it past the defensive line of Utah Valley. CBU moves to 2-2-1 in the WAC and 3-8-2 overall on the year, with six of its losses coming by just one goal.
"We are right in the thick of a very difficult part of our schedule, and we need to keep our spirit," Michaelson said. "If we keep working the next six games like we have the past six, then I think we will be very pleased with where we end up in the conference standings."
The Lancers will host their next three games in Riverside. San Jose State is first on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 3:00 p.m. CBU will then prepare for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (Oct. 25) and Incarnate Word (Oct. 27).
Team Stats
Alec Felix (1)
Assisted By: Luis Vargas
GOAL by UVU Felix, Alec Assist by Vargas, Luis.
06:38
