Lancers Settle For Draw After Leading Early Against CSUN

Wednesday, September 11

Riverside, Calif.

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

1-1-3, 0-0-0

CSUN

1-1-3, 0-0-0

CSUN

California Baptist

Photo by: Madison Sardana

Lancers Settle For Draw After Leading Early Against CSUN

9/11/2024 10:27:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's soccer looked to rebound after suffering their first loss of the season last week to No. 1 West Virginia and were well in line to do so for the majority of Wednesday's game before CSUN rallied back from a 3-1 deficit to claim a 3-3 draw. The result pushes the season records of both teams to 1-1-3.

CBU got two of its three goals off penalty kicks in the 18th and 26th minutes and was provided a goal from freshman Blake D'Agostino for a third-straight game.

"It's disappointing to be up two goals at home and draw. We have to be better at managing the situation. But to be honest, I thought CSUN was really good tonight, and we can certainly be better, so it's hard to deny they deserved something from the game," reflected Head Coach Coe Michaelson after the game. "It's tough emotionally to bounce back from the WVU game and the way that ended. Our job is to ensure all of that is out of our system, and we are ready to go on Monday because we have another really difficult game headed our way, and we need to be back to playing at the level we are capable of."

The Matadors took the lead early with a goal in the 17th minute, but the Lancers were aggressive and answered roughly 30 seconds after drawing a foul inside the box to earn a penalty kick. Leo Mendez converted his second penalty shot of the season to level the game at one-all.

Eight minutes later, the Lancers drew another penalty kick. To keep the Matador goalkeeper guessing, Josh Hallenberger set up his first penalty attempt of the season, which paid off. He tucked away his first official goal as a Lancer to give CBU the 2-1 lead.

After another eight minutes, D'Agostino tripled the Lancer lead, scoring his third goal in as many games as the CSUN keeper went right, but D'Agostino's shot veered right.

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A misplayed Lancer pass in the 64th minute led to a matador counterattack goal, and a third penalty shot, this time for the visitors, got the scoreline to its final tally. The two teams would rattle off nine more shots before the final whistle blew, but none found the back of the net.

The Lancers will play a pair of significant matches next week, splitting time between home and the road. First, CBU will host #21 San Diego to Riverside on Monday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m., for the first time since defeating them in Torrero Stadium last November to advance in the NCAA Tournament. Following that will be a road contest with Loyola Marymount, who began the season ranked 11th in the country and most recently played to a scoreless draw against #1 West Virginia and fell to CSUN earlier this season by a score of 2-1.