Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College men's soccer team who was seeking their second consecutive trip to the SCIAC Post Season Tournament final was upset Wednesday evening at the Donald E. Graham Soccer Field 2-0 by the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University who came in seed No. 3 in the tournament.
Whittier who has never earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament in the program's history was looking to make a run in this year's tournament with the absence of Redlands. But in their 10th shutout of the season, the Kingsmen stopped the Poets short and are now one win away from earning yet another trip to the NCAA Tournament, their first since 1998.
In the other semi-final game, No. 1 seeded Claremont-M-S hosted No. 4 Chapman University, but in the end the Panthers emerged victorious stunning the Stags 2-1 earning their first trip the SCIAC Post Season Tournament final.
In front of a standing room only crowd, the Poets looked like they would come out on top as they controlled every facet of the game in the first half by outshooting the Kingsmen 11-4. Midway through the half, Whittier had an opportunity to go in front when Lucas Depinna (Portland, OR) got free in the box taking one of his game high six shots, but Kingsmen keeper Jack Duncan came away with a big save keeping the game scoreless.
Cal Lutheran's best offensive chance came in the 22nd minute when Jorge Galvan ripped a shot on frame but Whittier goalie Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.) came away with a big save. Kyle Fleming then collected the following rebound and sent the ball in once again but Rivas came up with yet another big save preserving the scoreless ball game at the break.
Out of the break, trailing 18-8 on shots, Cal Lutheran managed to sneak one past Rivas in the 69th minute. Rivas was drawn out attempting to pick up a loose ball in the box, but CLU forward Gabe Fernando was there to flick the ball over Rivas towards the goal, where Logan Cone was sitting to finish it putting CLU in front 1-0, which was lead they would hold onto the rest of the half despite an offensive surge by the Poets.
In one last ditch effort with under a minute to play, Whittier pulled Rivas attempting to get an extra body in the box on a late corner kick, but after a failed attempt, CLU would clear the ball down into Poet territory where the goal was unguarded and in a foot race, Fernando would beat the last Poet defender near the post to tap in insurance, which sealed the victory for CLU, their first post season victory for 16 years.
Whittier finished the game outshooting the Kingsmen 26-9 and held the advantage on corner kicks 11-5.
Rivas finished with three saves, while Duncan totaled 10.
Along with Depinna who totaled six shots with three being on goal, Jon Elvins (Bideford, England) also collected six, while Pablo Gomez (Cardiff by the Sea) had three.
With the loss the Poets finish their 2013 campaign 11-8-1, 10-5-1 SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran improved to 12-6-2)
