With just one game under its belts for 2015, the University of Redlands men's soccer team kicked off Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition on Wednesday against the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Sagehens under the lights at Farquhar Field. In a high-flying offensive contest that featured six goals and 32 shots, the Bulldogs came up short against the Sagehens in a 2-4 decision.
The Maroon and Gray was forced to play catch-up almost immediately, as the visiting squad netted the first score of the game in the third minute of action.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs responded in a big way, as sophomore midfielder Casey ChubbFertal (Eugene, OR) provided the equalizer less than six minutes later. After corralling a bouncing free ball in front of the box on a small breakaway, he bumped the ball past the goalkeeper to even up the score at one apiece.
However, Pomona-Pitzer retook the lead in the 29th minute, when it squeaked a free kick into the lower-right corner of the goal.
Trailing for the second time in the game, the Bulldogs remained poised for an offensive resurgence by uncorking five shots through the end of the first half, but to no avail.
During the early part of the second half, Redlands continued that offensive mindset with three quality chances. Freshman forward Kayvon Parsa (West Hills, CA) tried his foot twice in a matter of three minutes and sophomore midfielder Sergio Valencia (San Jose, CA) used some fancy footwork to create some space just outside of the goalkeeper's box, but all three shots flew slightly off target.
After multiple efforts, the Bulldogs successfully pounded in a goal by converting a second-chance opportunity in the 63rd minute. After a header-shot by junior midfielder Colin Zaccagnio (Phoenix, AZ) was loosely saved by the Sagehen goalkeeper, junior defender Tom Elsea (Mission Viejo, CA) fired the ball into the back of the net to tie the game up at two apiece.
Unfortunately for Redlands, the Bulldogs allowed two more scores late in the second half, thus resulting in a 2-4 defeat.
ChubbFertal, Parsa, and Valencia shared the team-high mark of three shots, while senior defender Peter Marsden (Woodside, CA) tried his luck twice.
After corralling five saves, sophomore goalkeeper Dylan Ochoa (Santa Monica, CA) picked up his first loss of the season.
The Bulldogs (1-1-0, 0-1-0 SCIAC) face off against the George Fox University Bruins (1-2) of the Northwest Conference on Saturday, September 12, at 7 p.m. on Farquhar Field.