California Baptist University
0-0-2, 0-0-0
#6 University of North Carolina
1-0-1, 0-0-0
Lancers Remain Unbeaten, Stifle No. 6 UNC In Chapel Hill
8/25/2024 9:54:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - California Baptist men's soccer took on the sixth-ranked Tar Heels of North Carolina on Sunday night and spoiled the home opener for the 3,500 fans in attendance by playing the home team to a scoreless draw. The result keeps the Lancers unbeaten on the young season at 0-0-2, while the Tar Heels move to 1-0-1.
The result was positive, as head coach Coe Michaelson explained after the match, "Tonight was not, perhaps, vintage CBU soccer, but what we showed in terms of grit and toughness was exceptional. Not many teams come here and leave with anything, so to pick up a draw on the road and in their home opener with a loaded student section during their first week of classes is something to be proud of."
The Tar Heels were aggressive early, using a strong pressing defense to quicken the pace, hoping to catch the Lancers off guard. They were the clear aggressor on paper in the first half, dominating possession and chances to the tune of 16 shots to CBU's one in the opening 45.
Despite the stat sheet imbalance, few UNC shots were genuinely menacing, and many came from a manageable distance. CBU would close the half with just one shot but with a noticeable growth in comfort and presence in the game's flow.
The second half saw a more balanced game, though UNC still held a slight advantage in possession. The Tar Heel's best shot came in the 69th minute as they sent in a screamer from just outside the right side of the 18-yard box across the penalty area to the top left of the goal. Starting goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego went airborne and got his fingertips to the ball while fully extended to keep the game level. A few moments later, Kieran Robson would loose the Lancers' only shot on goal in the game, which the UNC keeper saved in the 76th minute.
"Obviously, we want to grow with our attacking execution, but this isn't a place where anyone expects many opportunities, and I have to give our attackers credit for all the work they put in to contribute to this result," Michaelson added about his front line. "It's also very evident that we have a top-class goalkeeper, which is great to see, given what we had to replace."
Michaelson was referring to Do Rego, the freshman goalkeeper from Luxembourg, who, in his second start for the Lancers, set a Division I era freshman saves record with nine and recorded his second clean sheet of the season. Though it's still early in the season, Do Rego is the only goalkeeper in the Western Athletic Conference with multiple shutouts to his credit and the only keeper in the league to shut out a ranked opponent.
The Lancers' season-opening road trip concludes with tonight's result, and they are now set to return to Riverside to host their home opener against CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners will visit the CBU Soccer Stadium on Saturday, August 31, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. CSUB has opened the season against two other WAC foes, defeating Utah Tech 1-0 and drawing with San Jose State 1-1.
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