California Baptist University
3-7-2, 2-1-1
Air Force
3-7-0, 2-2-0
Bryneus Nets Golden Goal Against Air Force
10/9/2019 7:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Falcons, the 2018 WAC regular season champions, were 17-5 overall and 8-2 in WAC play last season. They would go on to reach the third round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to the eventual national championship runner-up in Indiana.
It didn't take long for the Lancers to jump out to a lead. Just 17 minutes into the first half, Dass flicked a strong lob over the Falcon keeper and into the back of the net. His second goal of the season gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead that they took into halftime.
😍⚽️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
A replay of the first half goal by Dass shows just how pretty it was! The perfect touch!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/axj5D1xhet
Albert Escuin was responsible for keeping that lead until the halftime horn and he did not disappoint. He took care of four shots on goal including one shot from just outside the 18-yard box that even had the Air Force broadcasters singing Escuin's praises for a while afterwards.
🤯🙅♂️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
Albert Escuin with the superhuman reflexes! He stops an absolute rocket off the foot of a Falcon, securing the Lancer lead!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/PIaB1MFHDI
Strong winds moved in after the halftime break, forcing the the Lancers into a defensive formation. However, it did not prevent CBU from getting quality shots on goal. The Lancers were limited to only four shots in the second half compared to eight in the first stanza.
📏⚽️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
Tete Vacas makes a B-E-A-UTIFUL turn and shot but the Air Force keeper gets the tips of his fingers on it to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of the Lancers.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/shOcJWBlEX
🤲⚽️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
Niklas Haakenstad nearly extends the Lancer lead! Still 1-0 in favor of CBU with under 10 minutes to play!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/8KVpgUK0rD
The same winds were a benefit to the Falcons on the offensive attack, unloading 15 shots in the second period. Inside of the final minute of regulation, Air Force knit together a few impressive passes that led to an equalizing goal into the top left corner of the net to send the match into overtime.
Overtime saw the Lancers come out looking to spend no more time on the pitch than needed and Oliver Bryneus was clearly on board with that train of thought. Just four minutes into extra time, Bryneus gathered a touch pass at midfield and dribbled all the way to the border of the 18-yard box, lined up his shot, and this time the crossbar worked in the Lancers' favor, knocking the ball in for the game-winning goal.
‼️G⚽️⚽️AL‼️
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
Winner winner!!! Oliver Bryneus picked a great time to score his first goal of the season, launching a shot from the border of the 18-yard box and using the crossbar for dramatic flair to end this one just four minutes into OT! Lancers take the win 2-1!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HVGtGJP37B
The goal by Bryneus was his first of the season, but could not have come at a better time. Escuin's services were not needed in overtime and he finished the game matching his career-high in saves for the second time this season with 10.
"I'm so proud of the guys for gutting out this result," said CBU head coach Coe Michaelson. "We know about the elevation here and we did a great job of coping with it simply by keeping the ball and keeping them chasing most of the first half in beautiful conditions. But to come out in the second half to plummeting temperatures and 30 mile an hour winds in our face was a daunting task and extremely unlucky. We've had so much bad luck this year, but we have talked about the fact that we have to be better than any bad luck and tonight we were. And if that wasn't enough, to then see it slip through our grasp so late but respond in that manner showed the strength of our mentality and competitive character. Winning in those conditions at one of the toughest venues in the country, I couldn't be more proud of the boys tonight."
🎉 Time to celebrate! 🎉
— CBU Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 10, 2019
Guys showed heart and grit tonight! Chasing the WAC title!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Y0T88iQnYi
The Lancers are on their first winning streak of the season and look to keep the success going against the current WAC leaders in Utah Valley on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
Team Stats
Reuben Dass (1)
Assisted By: Victor Aguirre
GOAL by CBU Dass, Reuben Assist by Aguirre, Victor.
16:32
Quinn Matulis (1)
Assisted By: Michael Neacsu , Tristan Trager
GOAL by AF Matulis, Quinn Assist by Neacsu, Michael and Trager, Tristan.
89:03
Oliver Bryneus (1)
GOAL by CBU Bryneus, Oliver.
93:55
