Riverside, Calif. - After finding the back of net for their first two goals of the season, the men's soccer team fell just short in tonight's 3-2 loss to San Diego Christian College (2-2). The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 0-2-1 on the season.
Four of the five goals scored, were scored in the first half with the Hawks striking first with two goals within a three minute span. Victor Souto, assisted by Cayo Woebcken, scored the first goal of the match on a point blank shot off a crossing pass. Souto's goal came just after La Sierra's Mariano Vavich nearly scored on a free kick, just outside the penalty box, that glanced off the crossbar. Borja Suarez put the Hawks up 2-0 by capitalizing on a penalty shot in the 24th minute.
La Sierra's Branden Rivera scored (31st minute) the Golden Eagles first goal of the season off a rebound, but it was Woebcken again setting up Suarez this time (36th minute), pushing the lead back to two goals at 3-1.
The Hawks would maintain that lead until Isreal Vazquez pulled the Golden Eagles to within one goal when he scored on a penalty shot in the 77th minute. But that's as close as they would get, as the Hawks held on for their second win of the season.
Despite the loss, head coach Jesse Olivas was very proud of the team's effort. "It was a great battle, with two good teams going at each other. We made a couple of mistakes and they [capitalized] on them," said Olivas. "Once we settled in, we were able to play our style and create chances. I'm extremely proud of this young group. We have some great leaders that are helping the group come together and we are gaining a great deal of experience that will prepare us for conference play."
On Thursday, the men's soccer team will head back out on the road for another non-conference match with The Master's College. It will be on of their final non-conference tests before heading into Cal Pac play. The Golden Eagles will open the Cal Pac schedule in their next home match versus UC Merced, on September 15, at 6pm.
