Lancers Draw with #24 LMU In Front of Record Crowd

Saturday, September 2

Riverside, Calif.

8 PM

California Baptist University

0-2-1, 0-0-0

#24 LMU

1-0-2, 0-0-0

LMU (CA)

California Baptist

Photo by: Ryley Collom

Lancers Draw with #24 LMU In Front of Record Crowd

9/3/2023 12:01:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's soccer hosted #24 Loyola Marymount in tonight's home opener for 2023, making history by earning the program's first point against a ranked opponent as the two sides finished their 90 minute battle in a 2-2 draw.

A new CBU Soccer Stadium record crowd of 1,502 fans witnessed a pair of incredible Lancer goals and a dramatic saved penalty kick in the final minute of play. The result pushed the Lions record to 1-0-2, while CBU improves to 0-2-1 on the young season.

1️⃣,5️⃣0️⃣2️⃣‼️ The greatest fan base around! Thank you Lancer fans, you made tonights match the second-highest attended game California so far this season!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/Un7Ut3kQ5R
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 3, 2023

"Tonight was bittersweet. On the one hand, we got a result against a top-25 team that just won at Virginia in an absolutely electric environment. On the other hand, we feel like we let a win slip away, and we expect more of ourselves given the way we started the game," remarked Head Coach Coe Michaelson after the high-energy match. "But perspective is necessary. We are testing ourselves with one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country, and there is a lot of learning for us in these games. We are a bit disappointed, but all things considered, this was a step forward. We need to be mature and stay positive and then be ready for another extremely difficult opponent on Thursday."

The Lancers owned the first half, opening scoring in the 12th minute on Luis Mueller's 15th career goal courtesy of a Leo Mendez cross.

Luis ➕1️⃣#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/QmcXCA9wOc
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 3, 2023

Lincoln Aquino doubled the Lancer lead just three minutes later, collecting a pass from Georg Bjarnason and bouncing it off the left post and into the netting on the right wall for his first points of the season. CBU would take a two-goal lead into the break with them.

Lincoln with the banger!!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/5EFetkgOXG — California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 3, 2023
The second half saw a much more aggressive Lion side, scoring in the 56th minute and leveling the game at two in the 81st. LMU would have an almost gifted opportunity after earning a penalty kick with just 56 seconds left in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Dorian Druck set up for his first PK test as a Lancer and was right on the money. He dove low to his left, almost too strong, but managed to adjust and block the shot with his leg and send it out, preserving the draw for the time being.

DORIAN >>> YOUR PK!!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HuQxdCRZs7
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 3, 2023

The Lancers made one final push for the win, earning Luis Mueller a free kick from about 19 yards out with just two seconds left on the clock. His kick was solid but low, meeting the defensive wall and bouncing harmlessly toward midfield before the final whistle blew.

The Lancers are home for two more games next week, first being a return visit from the Golden Bears of Cal on Thursday, September 7th at 7:00 p.m.