Lancers Shutout Top Seed Air Force, Advance to WAC Tournament Championship

Friday, November 11

Riverside, Calif.

4 PM

California Baptist University

10-6-3, 4-3-2

Air Force

8-6-3, 7-1-1

California Baptist

Air Force

Photo by: Alexi Monnier

Lancers Shutout Top Seed Air Force, Advance to WAC Tournament Championship

11/11/2022 11:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Daniel Cook, Associate Director of Athletics Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University men's soccer kept the dream run alive on Friday night with a 2-0 win over the top-seeded Air Force Academy Falcons. Bryan Iliohan and Leo Mendez netted the goals for CBU, who find themselves with an opportunity to play for the WAC Tournament championship on their home field on Sunday.

"It's such a challenge to play such a good, experienced team with a rest advantage, but this was our most complete performance of the year. In every facet of the game, we were excellent, and we are excited to play for a big prize on Sunday," said head coach Coe Michaelson after the semi-final victory. "For several years now, everyone from Dr. (Micah) Parker to Tyler Mariucci to Kent Dacus to (President) Dr. (Ronald L.) Ellis has told us to be ready to challenge for a spot in the NCAA tournament in 2022. Everything we have done for the past five years has been with this moment in mind. We face an excellent San Jose State team, and three games in five days is no easy task, but we have so much to play for, and I know we will be ready for it. Tonight was awesome, but the job is not done yet."

FINAL | @CBUmsoccer 2, Air Force 0

Hear from head coach Coe Michaelson in our @signaturerings post game interview on how special it is to be in the #WACmsoc championship game. pic.twitter.com/RKCrnVRTtG
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) November 12, 2022

Air Force came into the match with extra rest after earning a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds and already having defeated CBU in October. The Lancers brought momentum from a first round upset of Utah Valley and home-field advantage to the tune of 1,100-plus supporters at their back.

The Lancers controlled the first half, outshooting the Falcons 8-3, but went into the locker room with nothing to show for it at halftime. The second half saw the host side push the action even more, shooting AFA even further, 9-2, in the final 45 minutes.

Ten minutes into the second half, Georg Bjarnason sent in a cross that Iliohan found with his head at the peak of his jump, redirecting it to the back of the net to open the scoring.

❗️G⚽️AL❗️

Brian Iliohan gives CBU the lead against the top-seeded Falcons!! Lincoln Aquino and Georg Bjarnason connect for the assists!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ICv6gXMM1s
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 12, 2022

Another ten minutes went by before Mendez was on the receiving end of one of the finest soccer sequences the team put on this year, collecting assists from Iliohan and Lincoln Aquino to net his second tournament goal.

❗️G⚽️⚽️AL❗️

Leo Mendez makes it back-to-back games with a goal, Lancers now lead by two!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/h4c9NxvqHQ
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 12, 2022

Sunday's championship match will take place at 1 p.m. at the CBU Soccer Stadium. The winner of the title bout will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. These two teams met in The Bay Area earlier this season with the Lancers claiming a 1-0 win thanks to a first half goal from defender David Cordes.