Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team put on a valiant comeback Saturday evening but couldn't complete it as they would fall 3-2 to Cal Lutheran University at Rolland Stadium.
Whittier proved pesky on the evening but couldn't hold an early 1-0 lead as they drop to 3-10-1, 2-9-1 SCIAC.
The Purple & Gold got on the scoreboard first in the 21st minute of action. Jacob Conlon (Placentia, Calif.) would find the right corner of the goal after being fed from the wing by Erik Dimas (Pomona, Calif.).
CLU rebounded though adding the next two strikes giving them a 2-1 lead into the break. Max Sharpe was on the scoring end of a lobbed ball from Henry Breheny from the right side of the pitch before Jesse Gallardo would put the Kingsmen on top taking a powerful shot that deflected off the post and into the net.
In the 58th minute, James Suri (Lake Forest, Calif.) shocked the crowd with the equalizer who broke away from his defender before firing a shot past CLU keeper Eduardo Garcia.
Whittier went to overtime in the previous match-up with Cal Lutheran but CLU avoided that Saturday evening who pressed offensively and was rewarded in the 66th minute. Brandon Kearney raced down the middle of the pitch before flipping a pass over to Diego Ortega who rifled a shot to the right corner of the goal for the game winner.
CLU outshot Whittier 28-11 and held the edge on corner kicks 7-4. Jorge Rivas (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) played all 90:00 and finished with seven saves, while Suri totaled four shots with three being on goal.
Whittier returns to action tomorrow, Monday, October 17 as they travel to take on Occidental College beginning at 7:00pm.
