Kingsmen Slips Past Beavers to Snap Skid

PASADENA, Calif.  – After a strong start in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, the Cal Lutheran men’s soccer team hit some bumps in the road. Today the Kingsmen needed nearly 105 minutes to snap a four-game skid, but ultimately erased a 1-0 deficit and turned in a 2-1 double overtime victory against the Caltech Beavers on the road.

Although CLU fired off 11 shots in the first half to the Beavers’ seven, it was the home Caltech squad that took an early 1-0 lead. In the 14^th minute Alec Sands scored his first of the season, putting the Kingsmen in a hole.

After the intermission, in the 54^th minute, Cal Lutheran senior Raul Yepez took a shot that was blocked by Caltech goalie Wesley Swank but freshman Salvatore Baldi was there to collect the rebound. He quickly punched the ball past Swank for the first collegiate goal of his career.

Though Cal Lutheran would combine for 13 second half shots, limiting the Beavers to five, the teams would remain scoreless through the remainder of regulation, forcing overtime.

During the first extra period CLU doubled up Caltech four shots to two, but none were on target.

In the second OT, at the 104:52 mark David Lee found an open hole in the CIT defense where Yepez awaited the ball and found nothing but net to give the Kingsmen the win.

Overall CLU outshot Caltech 29-14, earning seven corner kicks. Yepez led all players with 10 shots, four on goal. Both Baldi and Peter Keks took four shots and Nathan Davidson finished with three. Ivan Sanchez also created a pair of shots.

Among the seven Kingsmen to play all 105 minutes were four defenders in Keks, Sanchez, Thiago Gaglianone and Alex Wardle and a pair of forwards in Yepez and Kyle Fleming.

Rey Rivera-Ramos played the entire game in front of the cage, saving six shots.

Cal Lutheran (7-8, 5-6 SCIAC) will be back at Rolland Stadium on Monday at 7:00 p.m. when they host Redlands as the teams meet for the second time in five days.

Box Score: CLU 2, CIT 1 (2OT)