California Baptist University
San Diego State
MSOC Preview: Lancer Set to Host Aztecs for WAC Home Opener
10/8/2024 3:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's soccer returns home from the opening week of road league play with four points in the Western Atheltic Conference table. That sum is courtesy of a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Utah Tech, followed by a gritty 2-2 draw at UNLV. Standing at 2-3-5 on the season, 1-0-1 in WAC play, the Lancers maintain sole possession of fourth place in the early days of conference play behind San Jose State, San Diego State, and Seattle U, who all went 2-0 this past weekend.
The Lancers' offense picked up in a big way last week, scoring multiple goals for the first game since drawing with CSUN back on Sept. 11. Four goals by four different players, including goal-leader Blake D'Agostino, who now stands at four this season, is a significant boost to momentum going forward. Luis Borerro (1), Andrew Lovell (2), and David Cordes (1) chipped in the other three goals, with Borrero also assisting on D'Agostino's. Hugo Do Rego combined to stop nine more shots this weekend, bringing his season total to 55.
Unlike most teams, the Lancers are gaining strength and health at the season's midpoint. After missing the first nine games due to lingering injuries, newcomers Michael Mor and Tizian Marth made their Lancer debut at UNLV, working well with the established rotations. Mor, a freshman defender from Tel Aviv, was a solid addition to the backline while also flashing offensive prowess with a good look off a free kick in the second half against the Rebels. Marth, a freshman midfielder from Austria, began a handful of counter-attacks and showed good field vision with passes on those breaks that had defenders scrambling. They played just 45 and 29 minutes, respectively, but reps will bring familiarity, giving Head Coach Coe Michaelson even more options to play with, with the other recent returns of Cordes and Drew Hardin.
SDSU AT A GLANCE
The Aztecs are travel partners of CBU, so the two teams played a mirrored schedule this weekend, with SDSU earning two 1-0 wins over the common opponents. They will arrive in Riverside with a 5-4-2 (2-0 WAC) record, including a victory over one non-conference common opponent in UC Riverside (5-2) and a loss against another, San Diego (0-3).
SDSU took down the Rebels with a late goal, netting the winner in the 73rd minute in Las Vegas, but most impressively, allowed UNLV to put only a single shot on goal. That singular test came in the 14th moment. Against the Trailblazers, the Aztecs allowed just two shots on goal, but after scoring in just the 2nd minute, they failed to score again, despite Utah Tech losing players to red cards in the 29th and 59th minutes.
Three Aztecs have three or more goals to their name this season, led by junior forward Austin Brummett, who has netted five scores, including the winner at UNLV and a brace against UCR. Terence Okoeguale and Robbie Matei each have three goals, with three and one assist to their credit, respectively. In net, SDSU has split time between two goalkeepers this season, but whether by indecision or injury, that seems to have settled itself as Djibril Doumbia has started all five previous matches for San Diego State. In eight total appearances, he has allowed 1.94 goals per game and stopped 23 shots, which all add up to some of the more favorable numbers CBU has seen all season.
Saturday's game is set for a 7:30 p.m. start at CBU Soccer Stadium.
