Men's Soccer Claims WAC Tournament Crown with Dramatic Shootout Victory over San Jose State; Premack Named Tournament MOP

Sunday, November 13

Riverside, Calif.

1 PM

California Baptist University

10-6-4, 4-3-2

San Jose State

10-5-4, 5-2-2

California Baptist

San Jose St.

Photo by: Elijah Hickman

Men's Soccer Claims WAC Tournament Crown with Dramatic Shootout Victory over San Jose State; Premack Named Tournament MOP

11/13/2022 9:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

RIVERSIDE – A long defensive battle that was scoreless for 110 minutes went to penalty kicks where the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Nolan Premack, blocked the first Spartan PK. This led the way for CBU to win 0-0 (3-1 PKs) for the program's first WAC Men's Soccer Tournament title in its first year of eligibility.

A record crowd of 1,416 spectators for CBU Soccer Stadium and the WAC Men's Soccer Tournament championship game witnessed an absolute classic match on Sunday afternoon as fifth-seeded California Baptist took down San Jose State to claim the crown.

⚽️ 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 ⚽️ The 2022 season isn't over for CBU! The Lancers are going to the NCAA National Tournament in their inaugural DI season! #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/tmg94LHn1c
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 14, 2022

Defeating three higher-seeded teams in five days was no small task, but accomplishing the rare feat punched the team's ticket to the NCAA Tournament. They join the 2022 CBU women's cross country and first-year eligible teams from California Baptist to make the NCAA postseason. The men will wait with bated breath for Monday morning at 10 a.m. Pacific time to find out who and where they will be playing next. The Lancers won the 13th tournament shootout finale to became the first host program to win the tournament since Fresno State did it in 1998.

After the celebrations calmed on the field, the Western Athletic Conference announced the All-Tournament team, which included four Lancers. Thomas Beecham and Antonio Gomez from the Lancer defensive backline and CBU's leading scorer in the competition Leo Mendez all made the list. Starting goalkeeper Nolan Premack earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after recording back-to-back shutouts to close out the competition and stopping 13 shots, none more significant than the first penalty kick of the decisive match.

1⃣3⃣ Saves 2⃣ Shutouts 1⃣ Blocked PK Nolan Premack more than earned the top award from the @WACsports Men's Soccer Tournament! #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/EY37mNyKtI
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 14, 2022

The opening half began with an aggressive Lancer side rattling off five shots in 10 minutes before the Spartans had a chance to try their first. Most of the rest of that half was a feeling out process. Strategic poking and prodding dominated the rest of the 45 minutes to try to find an opening.

CBU returned from the halftime break still pushing the action, but it would be the Spartans finding opportunities. San Jose State tested CBU goalkeeper Nolan Premack four times, with Premack meeting the challenge each time in spectacular fashion.

🧱 Nolan Premack is a brick wall!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/f3jzT1WoM3
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) November 13, 2022

The second half and overtime periods remained scoreless despite the two teams combining for 18 shots after halftime. The game was hotly contested as each team received three yellow cards, leaving it all out on the field with everything on the line. Fans crowded the southern corner of the field in anticipation of a rare collegiate shootout.

The Spartan's first attempt was a solid strike to the upper left corner, but Premack read it well and made a full diving stretch to give the Lancers an early but massive advantage. Bryan Iliohan tucked his opening attempt into the left corner, followed by the lone make for SJSU in the shootout.

Transfer Anthony Vargas showed his experience and poise, firing a rocket inside the right post to give CBU a 2-1 lead. San Jose sent the next shot high before Luis Mueller put the pressure on the Spartans by also going right and making it a do-or-die situation for SJSU. The fourth Spartan lined up and got under it, sending the ball high and right and sending the host fans into a field storm like CBU has never experienced before.