Redlands Men’s Soccer Exits SCIAC Tournament in Double OT Draw | Cal Lutheran Advances on PK's

Image Credit: Kylie Calabrese-Kenny
Image Credit: Kylie Calabrese-Kenny

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Soccer team exited the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament in the Quarterfinals after playing No. 4 California Lutheran University to a double overtime draw.  The Kingsmen then advanced to the Semi-Finals on PK's.

The Bulldogs got the opening goal in the final three minutes of the first half when Skylar Darwen (Los Angeles, CA) scored to put pressure on the Kingsmen heading into the break. 

The Kingsmen tied the game at one with a goal in the 67th minute and then after two scoreless overtime periods, CLU would then advance on PK's (3-2). 

In the opening half of the quarterfinal, Seth Lawrence (Redlands, CA) was forced into the first save of the contest in the 12th minute. Lawrence then made his second save in the 32nd as neither team had consistent offensive pressure.

Then, in the 43rd, Darwen would convert with the go-ahead goal taking a shot that the CLU keeper denied.  The rebound would go right back to him, which he corralled and finished putting the Bulldogs in the driver's seat.

In the second half, neither team put a shot on-target until the 60th minute when Lawrence made his third save in as many opportunities. Then in the 67th off a corner, the Kingsmen were able to create a scoring opportunity which they took advantage of deadlocking the game at one. 

After facing only four shots on-goal in the first 78 minutes, Lawrence came up huge with four saves over the course of the next four as CLU equaled their scoring chances from the first third of the game. 

In the 86th Jamie Dulle (Clayton, MO) got the final shot on-goal of regulation, but the rarely tested Kingsmen keeper was up to the task forcing the game into extra time. 

What looked to be a turning point at the end of regulation was a yellow card on defender Teddy Rubenstein (Waikoloa Village, HI) and since he had a card issued earlier it then turned into a red forcing the Bulldogs to play a man down heading into OT. 

In the first period each team registered just one shot, but both were off target.  In the 108th minute and the final overtime session, Quinn Richards (San Clemente, CA) was able to get off a look, but the CLU keeper made the stop.  Each team added a shot that was not on-goal before the second overtime period ended.

With the game finishing in a double OT tie the game would then be decided by penalty kicks. Each team would have five attempts in what amounts to a best of five situation.  The CLU keeper ended up making three stops on UR attempts with the lone two finding the back of the goal coming from Richards and Dulle.  Lawrence was able to make a one stop and another CLU attempt would hit the crossbar that kept the Bulldogs alive, but the final attempt from the Kingsmen would connect advancing them to the semi-final.    

The Bulldogs were outshot 23-11 and were at a -10 differential on corner kicks (12-2). Despite the sheer number of chances for the Kingsmen, only eight of the 23 shots were on-goal and Lawrence made saves on seven of the eight. 

The goal that was scored by Darwen, the recently selected 2nd Team All-SCIAC member was his second of the season. He took two shots, both on-target. Notably, the Bulldogs were unable to get 1st Team All-SCIAC selection and leading scorer, Ethan Kovach (Las Vegas, NV) a single shot on the night.

Redlands ends their 2022 season with a 7-5-4, 6-4 SCIAC record.