Riverside, Calif. - Playing in their final home match of the season, the Golden Eagles men's soccer team was able to salvage a 1-1 tie (2OT), against Soka University, in tonight's Cal Pac match.
La Sierra (3-3-1 Cal Pac, 4-11-1 Overall) dominated play offensively, outshooting the Lions 27-16, including 11-15 in the first half. But it was Soka who took advantage of one of their shots, late in the first half, when Bryce Arenson scored on a penalty kick to give the Lions a 1-0 lead they would eventually take into the halftime break.
The Golden Eagles kept the pressure on in the second half, while both goalkeepers made save after save to keep their respective team in the game.
In the final minutes of regulation, La Sierra scrambled for scoring chances, while the Lions dropped back to protect their goal. With the game clock showing less than one minute to play, the Golden Eagles mounted a final rush. With the clock now showing 18 seconds to play, senior midfielder Edgar Padilla, playing in his final home match of his career, scored the equalizer to tie the score at 1-1 and send the match into overtime.
Both teams had quality scoring chances in the two overtime periods, but none better than the Lions who crossed a ball through the box, resulting in a point blank shot on goal that senior goalkeeper Robert Rodriquez smothered just in front of the goal line.
Padilla led all players with six total shots on goal (10 total shots). Brandon Chavez added three shots on goal, followed by Ray Maldonado and Kenny Bonanken who finished with two shots on goal each.
The two goalkeepers played a big role in tonight's outcome. While both Rodriguez and Danny Smyth each allowed a goal, Smyth finished the match with 13 saves and Rodriguez had nine saves of his own.
Prior to the match, La Sierra recognized the three seniors on this year's roster (Kenny Bonanken, Edgar Padilla, and Robert Rodriguez). The three seniors were joined on the field, before playing in their final career home match.
The three seniors, along with the rest of their teammates, will close out their season this coming weekend. The Golden Eagles will travel to Embry-Riddle University on Friday to play the final match of the 2014 campaign.
