Lancers Hang with No. 1 West Virginia, Nearly Pull Off The Upset at Home

Friday, September 6

Riverside, Calif.

7:30 PM

California Baptist University

1-1-2, 0-0-0

#1 West Virginia

4-0-0, 0-0-0

West Virginia

California Baptist

Photo by: Ryley Collom

Lancers Hang with No. 1 West Virginia, Nearly Pull Off The Upset at Home

9/7/2024 12:33:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

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

RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's soccer had a special opportunity on Friday night, hosting the top-ranked Mountaineers of West Virginia in Riverside. Both teams entered the match unbeaten and put on a show for the nearly 1,300 fans in attendance. CBU would lead for a respectable amount of time, but ultimately, WVU found the tightest of angles to steal the victory, 3-2. The Lancers now hold their first season loss, moving to 1-1-2, while West Virginia improves to 4-0.

CBU's incredible freshman trio shined again, as Andrew Lovell secured the Lancers' first goal off an assist from Juiro Uchida, and Blake D'Agostino put CBU ahead with a highlight reel goal that was set up by Kieran Robson. Hugo Do Rego was expectedly challenged by the #1 team in the nation and answered the call to the tune of six saves before WVU pulled away late.

"I'm very proud of the guys. I thought we deserved more, but in the end it was a special moment from a special player," said head coach Coe Michaelson after Friday nights thriller. He also started, "It hurts and feels cruel, but it also shows the level we are capable of playing at. We will only get better, and we will continue to learn and grow."

The visiting side scored first and fast, tucking away a goal in the sixth minute to take an early lead. The Lancers would slowly chip away at the Mountaineer's defense and regain possession, working deep into the WVU side. Uchida would find himself with space in the corner and cross a pass into the box where Lovell was unmarked and ready, heading in his career goal to level the game at 1-1.

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At the half, things were fairly even, with WVU holding a slight 8-6 lead in shots, but putting five on frame while CBU managed just two. Fouls were lopsided after 45 minutes as CBU had been called on eight times to WVU's two.

The Lancers came out with pace and pressure in the second half, controlling much of the opening portion. That effort paid off in the 62nd minute as D'Agostino collected a perfect pass from Robson and threaded the needle into the roof of the net for his second score of the season and a 2-1 Lancer lead.

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CBU would hold that lead until the 75th minute when a through ball into the box evaded a handful of Lancer defenders and found the left foot of the nation's leading scorer, Sergio Ors Navarro, for Mountaineer goal number two.

Just moments away from still collecting a point against the top team in the nation, the Mountaineers' Marcus Caldeira found a nearly impossible angle from the end line to score and secure his team's victory. Caldeira proved his pro-level prowess on that goal, a talent already well-known at the next level as he was a first-round pick in last summer's MLS Super Draft to Minnesota FC, but chose to return to school for another year.

Though it is the first tick in the loss column, this result will still reflect positively on the team's resume when considering at-large bids at the end of the season. Another major positive for the team is the atmosphere CBU has developed for its home games. Last season, CBU was one of only 18 programs to advance to at least their second consecutive NCAA Tournament while averaging over 1,000 fans per game. This season, that trend is growing, already averaging over 1,400 fans per home match, putting them in the top 20 in the nation and comfortably on top of the list in the Western Athletic Conference.

The Lancers will look to return to the win column on Wednesday, September 11, when CSUN rolls into Riverside for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. CSUN will enter the game with an identical 1-1-2 record, with their one win coming in upset fashion over #11 LMU, 2-1, but have gone scoreless since.