REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Soccer team opened up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Wednesday night hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. It was a re-match of the 2021 SCIAC Tournament Final where the Bulldogs won 2-1 securing the AQ Bid into the NCAA Division III National Championships.
Both teams came in searching for their first win of 2022 and they will have to wait a little bit longer as they played to s scoreless draw.
The Bulldogs were on their back foot in the opening minutes, but weathered the CMS attack before getting their offense going thanks to Phillip Kostenko (Zelenokumsk, Russia) who put a header that missed wide. Then off a recycled ball from a corner kick by Spencer Palmer (San Diego, CA), Joseph Parra (West Covina, CA) got a chance from outside the 18, but he just got under it sending it over the crossbar.
In the first half the Bulldogs took two shots, both missing frame and surrendered just five to the Stags, with one being on goal, which was denied by Seth Lawrence (Redlands, CA) keeping the game deadlocked at the break.
Redlands put the Stags under pressure early in the second half as Parra and Jamie Dulle (St. Louis, MO) each got off shots with a second opportunity from Parra being saved in the 50th minute.
A minute later Peyton Menti (Seattle, WA) had a look adding the fourth shot for UR during the three and a half minute stint. The next look for the go-ahead goal came again from Parra, this time in the 66th minute as his shot flashed in front of the goal forcing a save from Kevin Box.
David Johnson (Monrovia, CA) had a header opportunity in the box with fifteen minutes remaining, but again Box came up with the stop. Over the final nine minutes both teams tried to get a final push going, but the defensive back lines proved tough limiting any chances.
Despite the tie the Bulldogs did well to gather a point considering they were on the wrong side in shots (13-10), shots-on-goal (5-3), and corners (6-2). They were also without their top offensive threat Ethan Kovach (Las Vegas, NV) and totaled three yellow cards in the match.
Individually Parra had a game-high four shots with two on goal. Lawrence is now 0-1-2 on the season after playing the full 90:00 minutes and picking up four saves in his first shutout of the year.
Redlands who is still searching for their first win of the season returns to the pitch this weekend, Saturday, September 17 on the road when they take on Caltech beginning at 11:00am.
