CBU's Historic Season Comes to a Close Against #1 Marshall

Sunday, November 19

Huntington, WV

10 AM

California Baptist University

9-6-5, 5-1-2

#1 Marshall

18-2-0, 7-2-0

California Baptist

Marshall

Photo by: Daniel Cook

CBU's Historic Season Comes to a Close Against #1 Marshall

11/19/2023 4:42:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

HUNTINGTON, WV - The most successful season in California Baptist University men's soccer history ended on Sunday with a 3-0 decision in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament to the top-ranked team in the nation, Marshall University.

Head Coach Coe Michaelson remarked after the game, "Obviously, we were disappointed to lose, but I'm very proud of the game we played here today. The final score line doesn't indicate just how close it was."

The Lancers played a strong game in front of 2,959 hostile Thundering Herd fans but came up short in the end. This was the Lancers' first time advancing in the NCAA Tournament after making the national postseason for the second time in as many eligible seasons.

Senior striker Luis Mueller got the first good look of the contest just three minutes into the match, with the effort curving just a little early and fading out to the outside of the left post. The Herd was happy to slow the game to a near crawl, playing a three-man passing game in their defensive box, commanding the pace of play to their preference. That panned out for Marshall in the 24th minute when a ball that was miraculously saved from becoming a goal kick was saved and sent in for a goal.

UM would send in two more off-target shots before halftime, but that would be it for the first 45 minutes.

Georg Bjarnason would record CBU's only shot on goal in the 64th minute, forcing MU's keeper to make a play. Marshall would double their lead in the 75th minute and got away with a likely handball in the 6-yard box in the 85th minute to cap the scoring at 3-0 in favor of the 2020 National Champions. Six non-goalkeeper Lancers', Thomas Beecham, Stavros Charalampous, Mueller, Antonio Gomez, Uly Martinez, and Bjarnason, played all 90 minutes in a commendable effort to keep their season going.

"We went into the final 20 minutes in a tight one-goal match and pressing for the equalizer. We had chances and weren't able to take them, but to be in the game late at the number one team in the country on short rest while having some important players limp off the field earlier in the game is something we can be proud of," added Michaelson about the match.

CBU ends the 2023 season with a 10-6-4 record overall and a 5-1-2 record in WAC play. This marks three straight seasons where the Lancers have secured double-digit wins while facing six teams who were at least receiving votes in the national polls at the time of the contest.

This also concludes the careers of a group of seniors who laid the groundwork for a transitioning Lancer program that was immediately competitive nationally. Lincoln Aquino, Beecham, Bjarnason, Cole Bradley, Gomez, Aidan Hay, Nolan Premack, Mueller, and Anthony Vargas contributed to 37 wins, 21 losses, and 11 draws beginning in a time when there was no postseason available to them and built up this program based almost solely on vision and belief.

"This group of seniors have changed this program and built a legacy establishing CBU as a name recognized across the country in men's soccer," Michaelson noted. "This may be the end for some of them, and we are so thankful for them, but this is not the pinnacle for us, it is an experience that will prepare our young guys to build on the legacy of these seniors."

Mueller ends the season as the top offensive threat for CBU with 12 goals and four assists for 28 points. Leo Mendez was also big for Michaelson, with six goals and eight assists for 20 points. True freshman Drew Hardin was the final Lancer in double figures at the end of the year, netting three goals and helping on four more for 10 points. Premack and his top-tier defensive line tallied six shutouts in 2023, allowing less than one goal per game at 0.99 over the course of the season.