Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team took an early lead Monday evening but couldn't hold off a late charge by Cal Lutheran University as they played to a 1-1 draw.
The previous time these two teams met, the Poets came back to earn a 3-2 victory in double OT and tonight it proved to be yet another tough game on both ends. After a quick first half, which remained scoreless both teams came out aggressive in the second. In a must win game for the Purple & Gold with just three games remaining on the schedule, Whittier looked poised for the home victory as they jumped out in front in the 68th minute.
Ricardo Pena (Bell Gardens, Calif.) bent in a beautiful cross into the box, which found the left foot of freshman Jacob Conlon (Fullerton, Calif.) who finished past CLU keeper Peter Wilder. But this lead wouldn't hold as the Kingsmen would add the equalizer 11 minutes later in the 79th minute. Charlie Villa-Lovos would get through the midfield dribbling through a few defenders before sending a through ball to Brandon Kearney who carried it just inside the box before finishing near post past Jorge Rivas (Lake Forest, Calif.).
CLU would get rejuvenated following the score and would add another five shots on frame in the final ten minutes of regulation. Logan Cone had a look in front but his shot would go high, Pedro Zaccarelli would force Rivas into a save situation before hitting the crossbar on his next attempt, Zach Torres would hit the side post from just outside the box and Elmer Molina would send the final attempt high.
In the first overtime period, Whittier controlled the offensive side putting together three good looks. The first came right at the beginning in the 91st minute from Conlon who was setup beautifully on a cross from Ryan Wood (Wilsmlow, England) getting a point blank shot on goal but ended up hitting it high. Moncef Bouzar (Salinas, Calif.) and Darren Holmes (Newcastle, UK) would get the next two looks but both would be off the mark and the final two shot attempts from CLU would miss wide forcing the game into the second overtime session.
Kearney would get off the first shot in the second OT period for the Kingsmen but soon after it was all Whittier who put on an offensive onslaught with four shots being taken. Conlon had his first blocked in front of the goal and the final three from Conlon and Wood would all be turned away from Wilder as the game finished in a tie.
CLU finished the game outshooting the Poets 32-18, while Whittier held a slight 8-7 advantage on corner kicks. Rivas picked up nine saves in 110 minutes of action between the posts and Conlon totaled seven shots with three being on goal that led the Poets.
Whittier returns to action this Saturday, October 24 as they host Redlands on Senior Day during Rage the Cage beginning at 11:00am.
