The University of Redlands men's soccer team kicked off the 2014 campaign against the Pacific Lutheran University (WA) Lutes on Friday under the lights at Farquhar Field. Despite two second-half goals, the Bulldogs fell short in their home opener by a score of 2-3 in a game that stretched into overtime.

After allowing a goal in the ninth minute of play, the Bulldogs countered with an aggressive offensive attack. Senior forward Matej Kustura (Las Vegas, NV) served as the Maroon and Gray's most prolific option in the first half, as he recorded seven shots on-goal while only missing by a slim margin on more than one occasion.

After the lone first-half goal by PLU, Redlands continued its aggressive nature of play into the second stanza. In the 60th minute, the Bulldogs earned a free kick after a PLU foul. Kustura's original shot bounced around a group of players in front of the goal and eventually found the foot of senior defender Tom Elsea (Mission Viejo, CA), who fired it past the Lutes' goalkeeper tie the game at 1-1.

In the 72nd minute, PLU tracked down an errant pass and attempted to score, but freshman goalkeeper John Melito (Portland, OR) made a phenomenal, diving save to keep the score knotted. However, the saved ricocheted off Melito's hands and found a PLU forward, who knocked the ball into the net to put PLU ahead, 2-1.

However, PLU's lead was short-lived, as senior forward Charles Izydorek (Redlands, CA) answered with a goal to even the count once again.  On another set piece, Kustura's free kick found freshman Chase Boone (Beaverton, OR), who tapped it to Izydorek for the score, eventually leading to a ten-minute, golden-goal overtime.

The overtime lasted 4:36 minutes when Pacific Lutheran punched home a goal, taking home a 3-2 victory.

Redlands out-shot PLU, 20-10, on the night while committing four fewer fouls than PLU.

The Bulldogs look ahead to Sunday's contest, as they face the visiting Loggers of University of Puget Sound (WA) at 7 p.m. on Farquhar Field.