Sunday, October 30
Riverside, Calif.
5 PM
California Baptist University
8-5-3, 4-2-2
4
vs
0
Utah Tech
3-12-2, 1-5-2
1
2
F
Utah Tech
0
0
0
California Baptist
1
3
4
Photo by: Elijah Hickman
Men’s Soccer Punches Their Ticket to the WAC Tournament With Huge Senior Night Win over Utah Tech
10/30/2022 8:41:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE – Despite knowing for months that California Baptist University would be the host site for the 2022 Western Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament, the Lancers still needed to earn their spot in the field as every host had before them. The team emphatically put that to rest on Senior Night, downing the visiting Utah Tech Trailblazers 4-0 to book a slot in the tournament.
CBU is currently tied for third in the WAC standings place alongside Grand Canyon and San Jose State, with 14 points on the table. The Lancers mathematically have a shot at second place in the regular season, which would earn them a first-round bye in the tournament.
None of the three teams will have an easy regular-season finale, and every possible outcome of each game could significantly impact the tournament's seedings. SJSU will host a Seattle U team eyeing a first-round bye, which they can secure with a win over the Spartans. GCU will host the regular season champions, Air Force, a game that any WAC fan knows the Falcons will not give away. CBU will be the only one of the three to travel for the final match, heading to Orem, Utah, to take on a Utah Valley squad whose fate is still to be determined, but would improve dramatically with a win next week.
The Lancers improve to 8-5-3 overall and 4-2-2 in league play. Only San Jose State has as many wins in 2022 as the Lancers. Tonight's loss drops Utah Tech down to 3-12-2 on the year with a 1-5-2 WAC tally.
Sunday night began with appreciation as the team and fans honored four Lancers before kickoff. Emiel Deconink, Brian Gonzalez, Bryan Iliohan, and Jordan Lane all were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony at midfield. The four-some has helped build CBU soccer into the successful Division I program it is today and will not soon be forgotten.
"It has been a long wait for a postseason experience, but today the guys knew they had the opportunity to book their ticket, and they did exactly what they needed to do. Those four seniors have been so impactful for us, not just as players but as good students, good teammates, and good culture guys. All of them have leadership qualities that will take them far in life," noted head coach Coe Michaelson after the game. "Four-nil is a nice senior day scoreline; I only wish Jordi and Emiel had been able to take part. These four have been with us through some challenging years, and they were a big part of building a foundation for a very bright and ambitious future."
The Lancers were in control for all 90 minutes of tonight's match, outshooting Utah Tech 29-6 for the game. Grady Kozak notched his second goal as a Lancer in the 11th minute, his first game-winner for the Blue and Gold. His score gave CBU a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
California Baptist began to pull away in the 61st minute as Leo Mendez scored his first of two goals of the night. He would double his tally with a rebound goal in the 87th minute. Sandwiched in between in the 64th minute was an incredible header score from defender David Cordes from a perfectly taken corner kick by means of Luis Mueller.
The Lancers travel to Utah for the regular season finale at Utah Valley on November 4th. Game time is set for 5 p.m. PDT.
CBU is currently tied for third in the WAC standings place alongside Grand Canyon and San Jose State, with 14 points on the table. The Lancers mathematically have a shot at second place in the regular season, which would earn them a first-round bye in the tournament.
None of the three teams will have an easy regular-season finale, and every possible outcome of each game could significantly impact the tournament's seedings. SJSU will host a Seattle U team eyeing a first-round bye, which they can secure with a win over the Spartans. GCU will host the regular season champions, Air Force, a game that any WAC fan knows the Falcons will not give away. CBU will be the only one of the three to travel for the final match, heading to Orem, Utah, to take on a Utah Valley squad whose fate is still to be determined, but would improve dramatically with a win next week.
The Lancers improve to 8-5-3 overall and 4-2-2 in league play. Only San Jose State has as many wins in 2022 as the Lancers. Tonight's loss drops Utah Tech down to 3-12-2 on the year with a 1-5-2 WAC tally.
Sunday night began with appreciation as the team and fans honored four Lancers before kickoff. Emiel Deconink, Brian Gonzalez, Bryan Iliohan, and Jordan Lane all were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony at midfield. The four-some has helped build CBU soccer into the successful Division I program it is today and will not soon be forgotten.
"It has been a long wait for a postseason experience, but today the guys knew they had the opportunity to book their ticket, and they did exactly what they needed to do. Those four seniors have been so impactful for us, not just as players but as good students, good teammates, and good culture guys. All of them have leadership qualities that will take them far in life," noted head coach Coe Michaelson after the game. "Four-nil is a nice senior day scoreline; I only wish Jordi and Emiel had been able to take part. These four have been with us through some challenging years, and they were a big part of building a foundation for a very bright and ambitious future."
The Lancers were in control for all 90 minutes of tonight's match, outshooting Utah Tech 29-6 for the game. Grady Kozak notched his second goal as a Lancer in the 11th minute, his first game-winner for the Blue and Gold. His score gave CBU a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
📘⚽️
Grady Kozak opens the scoring with this textbook laser beam! Props to Brian Gonzalez for the long assist on the setup!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/fKS9eQ1Mof
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 31, 2022
California Baptist began to pull away in the 61st minute as Leo Mendez scored his first of two goals of the night. He would double his tally with a rebound goal in the 87th minute. Sandwiched in between in the 64th minute was an incredible header score from defender David Cordes from a perfectly taken corner kick by means of Luis Mueller.
Luis Mueller drops in a perfect corner that finds the flying head of David Cordes for a third Lancer score!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/6YvwTM1CGZ
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) October 31, 2022
The Lancers travel to Utah for the regular season finale at Utah Valley on November 4th. Game time is set for 5 p.m. PDT.
Team Stats
UT
CBU
Goals
0
4
Shots
6
29
Shots on Goal
3
12
Saves
7
3
Corners
4
10
Fouls
9
16
Scoring Plays
Grady Kozak (2)
Assisted By: Brian Gonzalez
GOAL by CBU Kozak, Grady Assist by Gonzalez, Brian.
10:06
Leo Mendez (3)
Assisted By: Bryan Iliohan , Adolfo Pino
GOAL by CBU Mendez, Leo Assist by Iliohan, Bryan and Pino, Adolfo.
60:49
David Cordes (3)
Assisted By: Luis Mueller
GOAL by CBU Cordes, David Assist by Mueller, Luis.
64:17
Leo Mendez (3)
Assisted By: Luis Mueller
GOAL by CBU Mendez, Leo Assist by Mueller, Luis.
86:10
Game Leaders
Players
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
2
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