Pair of Braces Propel Lancers By St. Thomas in Non-Conference Finale

Monday, September 20

St. Paul, Minn.

10:30 AM

California Baptist University

5-1-1, 0-0-0

University of St. Thomas

0-7-1, 0-0-0

California Baptist

St. Thomas (MN)

Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com

Pair of Braces Propel Lancers By St. Thomas in Non-Conference Finale

9/20/2021 12:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

ST. PAUL – Fresh off a shutout win, the California Baptist University men's soccer team continued its successful run through the non-conference schedule with another victory, with a 4-1 result against the University of St. Thomas on Monday.

The Lancers head into the upcoming Western Athletic Conference schedule with a 5-1-1 record, the program's best mark entering conference play since joining the WAC in 2018.

⚔️4⃣ - 1⃣🟣 Tete Vacas and Bryan Iliohan each record a brace as the Lancers take down the Tommies in St. Paul!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/C8tQ0AdJ7x
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 20, 2021

"I'm really pleased to wrap up our non-conference with a convincing road win. We had a lot of contributors today, but I thought Evan Ince was particularly excellent and was a strong steady presence for us. It's disappointing to lose the clean sheet at the end, but we got the win and it's time to turn our eyes towards WAC play," Head Coach Coe Michaelson after the game. "The WAC is a quality mid-major conference in our sport and has a lot of senior-laden teams that have done very well in the non-conference, so we know we are in for a fight, but we are excited and ready to go."

Essential to the Lancers' victory were magnificent offensive performances by Tete Vacas and Bryan Iliohan. Both players recorded a brace for CBU, Vacas scored both of his goals in the first half and Iliohan did so in the second.

The last two Lancers to record a brace in the same game was the duo of Aidan Apodaca and Preston Judd on November 11, 2017, in a 5-0 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the opening round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Vacas set the tone early, as he scored his goals in the 11^th and 13^th minutes -- assisted by Chris Heckenberg and Emiel Deconinck, respectively. The second goal would prove to be the game-winner as CBU took the 2-0 lead into halftime.

⚔️2⃣ - 0⃣🟣 Tete times two! Vacas' 11th and 13th minute goals have the Lancers up at halftime in rainy St. Paul! Evan Ince has had to make a pair of saves to secure the CBU first half shutout!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/en2HXrbk84
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 20, 2021

Iliohan added his first insurance goal in the 50^th minute, slicing a wonderful free kick into the top corner of the frame from roughly 30 yards out. He capped the Lancer scoring in the 56^th minute on a penalty kick, his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

🤯🤯🤯 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 B̷E̷C̷K̷H̷A̷M̷ 𝗕𝗥𝗬𝗔𝗡‼️ You won't see a better goal today, that's a promise!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/3IQvc2RWSC
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 20, 2021

Vacas (three goals, two assists) and Iliohan (four goals) are tied for the team lead in points with eight each this year.

Ince, the starting goalie, remains undefeated in his starts this season, now sitting at 3-0 after collecting a career-high 10 saves against the Tommies. Ince leads the WAC in save percentage (.905), goals against (two) and goals-against average (.049 per game) heading into conference play.

UP NEXT

Monday's victory marks the end of the CBU non-conference schedule, but the road trip continues. The Lancers will open up their Western Athletic Conference slate at UNLV on Saturday, Sept. 25, with a 6 p.m. kickoff scheduled at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas.