Men’s Soccer Drops Back and Forth Battle with Sagehens 4-3

Image Credit: Adrian Williams
Image Credit: Adrian Williams

REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Soccer team dropped their second straight one-goal contest Wednesday night falling 4-3 to Pomona-Pitzer inside Farquhar Field.

Despite holding a pair of leads over the Sagehens, the Bulldogs came up short to fall to 2-3-3, 2-2-1 SCIAC.

It was a high-scoring game with a combined seven goals being scored.  The matchup did not lack excitement as it proved to be a back-and-forth battle all night.  Ethan Kovach (Las Vegas, NV) got UR on the board first, seven minutes in by attacking from on top of the box after getting fed by Skylar Darwen (Los Angeles, CA) from the wing.  But two minutes later, the Sagehens responded with the game-tying goal, which came from Matthew Carlson.  A long ball was sent in from the midfield and Owen Jamieson (Danville, CA) attempted to clear it by sticking his left leg out but deflected the ball to Carlson, who would go on to finish top-left corner. 

Over the next 25 minutes, the game remained deadlocked until the Sagehens saw some luck come their way in the 34th minute when Sean Donovan put a ball on frame.  It would have been a routine stop for Bulldog keeper Seth Lawrence (Redlands, CA) to his left, but the ball slipped out of his grasp and into the goal, putting PP on top 2-1.  Five minutes later the Maroon and Grey got that luck right back when a ball was put on goal, which deflected off the chest of the Sagehen keeper Will Brooks.  Phillip Kostenko (Zelenokumsk, Russia) was there for the rebound and made a quick turn and finish to an open goal sending the game into the half all tied up.

Quinn Richards (San Clemente, CA) broke the tie in the 59th minute of the second half.  Jarette Alexis Barajas (San Jose, CA) found space just outside the 18 before sending off a laser that was stopped by Ethan Bae to his left.  The rebound found the feet of Richards in the box, who tapped it in for the go-ahead goal.

But the Sagehens did not go away quietly, thanks to Niclas Ulrich, who finished off two balls in the second half to propel Pomona-Pitzer to the road win.  The equalizer came in the 66th minute when Carlson found Ulrich on the back post for a header finish.  He then came back in the 78th minute with the eventual game-winner.  A free kick came into the box, which was deflected out by the back line but right to Ulrich on top of the 18, who found the back of the net to move the score to 4-3.

After that, it was an offensive frenzy for the Bulldogs, who tried to find the game-tying goal but to no avail, despite getting off another five shots, three of which were blocked and another two that missed high.

Redlands held the advantage on shots, 18-14, but gave up nine corner kicks.  Lawrence picked up the loss after playing all 90 minutes and finishing with four saves.  Kovach led the offense with a goal and three shots, while Jamie Dulle (St. Louis, MO) added another five shots, two on goal, and Spencer Palmer (San Diego, CA), Barajas, and Kostenko each added another two.       

Redlands looks to end their two-game losing skid this Saturday, October 1, when they host Whittier College beginning at 7:00 p.m.