Riverside, Calif. – After opening the season at 0-4, the men's soccer team has rattled off three straight wins, including tonight's 4-1 victory over Sierra Nevada College. It was a physical match, with a total of 32 fouls called between the two teams, which is to be expected as it also marked the beginning of the Cal Pac schedule. La Sierra improves to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in Cal Pac play.
Abel Cornejo, put the Golden Eagles on the board, when he scored his first of two goals in the ninth minute, on an assist from Juan Bakchellian. The score remained 1-0, in favor of La Sierra through the remainder of the first half of play.
Cornejo, struck again in the opening minutes of the second half, pushing the Golden Eagles lead to 2-0.
Sierra Nevada trimmed the lead to 2-1, in the 58th minute, when they awarded a penalty kick. The Eagles continued to pressure La Sierra in an effort to tie the score, but Cornejo factored in again, when he found Israel Vasquez for his first of two goals, in the 78th minute.
Vasquez added another insurance goal, in the 85th minute, on a penalty kick.
Goalkeeper Javier Lopez finished with two saves, behind a solid defensive effort by the Golden Eagles.
La Sierra will now shift their focus to Saturday night when they are scheduled to host California State University – Maritime Academy, for another Cal Pac match. The Keelhaulers are 0-1 on the season, after falling to Soka University, 9-0, in their opening match on Thursday evening. Saturday night's match will kick-off at 8pm.
