Seniors Honored Before Season Finale Against Utah Valley

Friday, November 5

Irvine, Calif.

7 PM

California Baptist University

11-4-3, 6-3-2

Utah Valley

9-5-2, 6-4-0

Utah Valley

California Baptist

Seniors Honored Before Season Finale Against Utah Valley

11/5/2021 9:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

IRVINE - California Baptist University men's soccer closed out the 2021 schedule on Friday night with one final bout against Utah Valley, eventually dropping the season finale to the Wolverines, 2-1. The Lancers end the year with an 11-4-3 overall record and a 6-3-2 final tally in the Western Athletic Conference. Both records set new program highs in total and win percentage during the NCAA Division I era as CBU now looks forward to postseason eligibility in 2022.

"Tonight was the first game this season where I can't say we were definitely better than the opponent, but rather that it could go either way. Both teams posed problems to one another and it's just unfortunate it went against us," said Head Coach Coe Michaelson after the game. "But the fact I'm saying that shows just what a great team we have and these four seniors have had such a huge role to play. As everyone above us in the standings graduates large numbers of key players, the team that we become over the next few years can look back at these guys and the foundation they helped put in place."

Utah Valley controlled possession for much of the first half, but were not able to do much with it, taking seven shots and putting two on goal. The Lancers took nine shots in the half, also putting a pair on frame, but neither team found the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes.

The game ran into the 69^th minute before the deadlock would be broken, as Utah Valley made sense of some confusion in the box to put one in and take the lead.

CBU would answer back just three minutes later with a brilliant set piece taken by Jordan Lane and put in by Thomas Beecham. It marked the first goal of the season for Beecham, and second as a Lancer, while Lane tallied his fourth assist of the season.

What a pass❗️ What a goal‼️#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/i7prLY8bl2
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 6, 2021

The Wolverines scored the game-winner just five more minutes later to push their season record to 9-5-2 and their WAC tally to 6-4.

The teams would combined to take 32 shots total, with CBU taking 15, led by Danny Garcia who took four of them. The two sides also totaled 22 corner kicks with UVU taking the majority with 14.

The Lancers have a lot to look forward to as they will finally be postseason eligible during the 2022 season, as well as having a new home facility to christen in the fall.

Coach Michaelson added this about this roster and their true grit, "For this whole group to go two full seasons without a home game on campus, to commute 30 minutes each way to training every day and the added mental drain that created, I just can't be complimentary enough about this group and the adversity we faced because no one else had to deal with what we did for the past two seasons. Winning 11 games under these circumstances is something to be proud of and I'm so thankful to these seniors for the part they've played in moving CBU soccer forward toward what we will become."

SENIOR SENDOFF
Prior to the game, the Lancers honored four seniors ahead of their final match in a CBU kit. This foursome of student-athletes were instrumental for a Lancer soccer program who needed leadership and stability during its transition from Division II to full Division I membership. Goalkeeper Gage Rogers, striker Reuben Dass, and midfielders Tete Vacas and Chris Heckenberg were individually and collectively honored during a pregame ceremony.

Rogers came to CBU in 2018 after transferring in from Oregon State. He leaves CBU with a winning record between the pipes at 14-10-4, racking up 91 saves, 14 wins, and five shutouts in 29 appearances. The two-year captain set a new single-game career-high this season with nine saves in an overtime win against Seattle U. Rogers earned WAC All-Academic honors in spring 2021.

Dass came to CBU at the beginning of the 2019 season after spending two seasons at the University of San Diego. Since then, Reuben has started 23 of the 36 games he has played in and has recorded nine goals for the Lancers, including the game-winner against Seattle U this past spring. Reuben earned All-WAC Honorable Mention after the spring 2021 season that he ended as the co-leader on the team with four goals.

Vacas has spent three seasons providing offense for the Lancers as he finishes his career with 12 goals, half of which were game-winners, to go with 10 assists. Vacas has started 44 of the 47 games he has played in since 2019. Vacas earned All-WAC Honorable Mention in 2019 after leading CBU with 10 points, and followed that up with WAC All-Academic honors after the spring 2021 season.

Heckenberg is the only member of today's group who played his entire career as a Lancer. With his participation in today's game, his program record for most career appearances will cap at 85 since he played his first match in a CBU kit in 2017 against Cal State San Bernardino. He finishes his Lancer career with one goal, 14 assists, and 6,285 minutes played. Chris has earned three WAC All-Academic awards, and last season earned All-WAC Honorable Mention as well as All-Far West Region Second Team honors.