Trio of Late Goals Hand CBU Its First Loss of 2025

Thursday, September 4

San Diego, CA

7:00 PM

California Baptist University

3-1-0, 0-0-0

University of San Diego

3-1-1, 0-0-0

California Baptist

San Diego

Photo by: Matt Horrocks

Trio of Late Goals Hand CBU Its First Loss of 2025

9/4/2025 9:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

By: Matt Horrocks, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications and Digital Media

SAN DIEGO, CA --- For the first time since celebrating a penalty shootout victory in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the Lancers stepped foot onto the Torero Stadium turf for a highly touted battle with the San Diego Toreros. Two early goals had momentum in the corner of CBU, but a trio of late strikes from the Toreros sent CBU back to Riverside with a 3-2 loss.

The defeat, CBU's first of the season, moves the Lancers to 3-1-0 on the campaign.

Head coach Coe Michaelson stated after the match, "(San Diego) is a top team, with nearly their whole team back from a deep NCAA run last year, and we can take heart from how we competed while having a clear understanding how we can improve and the lessons we can take from tonight. As heart breaking as it feels right now, we need to respond in the right way and show who we are."

CBU sped out of the gates, placing a goal on the board less than eight minutes into the match. Junior Stavros Charalampous provided a goal-of-the-year candidate with his right-footed volley from 30 yards out that skipped inside the left post.

STAVI… OH MY 😳 #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/m8mLnqpZGE
— California Baptist Men's Soccer (@CBUmsoccer) September 5, 2025

Less than three minutes later, the Lancers were at it again when sophomore Blake D'Agostino successfully converted his second penalty attempt of the season. D'Agostino has scored in three consecutive matches, the second time in his career he has achieved the feat.

The penalty attempt was not without some contemplation, as the center official went to replay review to confirm that there was indeed a foul in the box.

An hour and 15 minutes later, the center official was back in the replay booth, this time to confirm that the Lancers had committed a handball in the box, issuing a penalty to the Toreros.

Samy Kanaan converted the penalty, and then the floodgates opened. One minute later, Noah James leveled the score at two. Then, in a last-ditch effort, James scored again, placing the ball over the goal line with one second on the clock.

"Up until the late penalty, I thought we were going to walk away with the win," addee Miichaelson. "We did many things well to put ourselves in a great position, but while we don't control the decision to award a penalty, we do control our reaction after the penalty, and we simply needed to remain composed, get ahold of the ball a bit, and see it out."

The trio of late USD goals came after a six-save performance from goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego. Adam Salama of USD finished with no saves as the Lancers' two shots on goal found the back of the net.

CBU will now look to regroup as their next match takes them back to Riverside, as Cal State Fullerton comes to town. Kickoff is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale HERE.