Men's Soccer Team celebrating after a goal.
2
American AMU (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
3
Winner California Baptist CBU (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
American AMU
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
2
Final
3
California Baptist CBU
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
American AMU 2 0 2
California Baptist CBU 2 1 3

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's Soccer Drops High-Scoring Affair to Cal Baptist, 3-2

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Goals from Troy Elgersma and Nicholas Beil highlighted a quality effort from the American University men's soccer team that came up short, falling to California Baptist 3-2 in an intense season opener. Moad Ezzahir and Taku Takahashi picked up assists, as the Eagles battled with the Lancers in 91-degree heat out west. 

BY THE NUMBERS
  • Beil's goal and was the first of the freshman's collegiate career, while the sophomore Ezzahir picked up his first assist.
  • The Eagles were outshot 16-6, but were knotted with the Lancers in shots on goal at 5-5. 
  • CBU generated seven corners to just one for American. 
  • It was a physical game, with 34 fouls total. 19 went to CBU, 15 to AU. 
  • Goalkeeper Matthew Tibbetts was credited with just two saves on the night, but they came on prime chances for the home side early in the first half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • CBU applied attacking pressure first after a quiet start to the match, forcing two saves from Tibbetts. Off an AU turnover in the 15th minute, Drew Hardin fired a high-velocity shot from just outside the box to the near post. Well-positioned, Tibbetts got two hands to the ball to make the save.
  • The senior keeper was up to the task again in the 28th minute, denying Nicholas Coope on a point-blank chance from inside the six-yard box. 
  • Four minutes after the heroic stop from Tibbetts, the Eagles responded with an excellent buildup sequence to score their first goal. Toshi Davis lofted a well-weighted ball to the low right side of the box for Moad Ezzahir, who delivered a strong cross to the middle that was headed down by Beil and past Hugo Do Rego to give AU the 1-0 lead. 
  • The goals started to pour in after the visitors opened the floodgates, as Liam Jones scored back-to-back for CBU to give the home side the lead. He placed a left-footed strike to the top left corner in the 38th minute, then finished off a long run with a shot to the bottom right corner that beat Tibbetts. 
  • Now down 2-1, the Eagles had one response left before the half. Given a free kick from the right side of the attacking third with just 23 seconds remaining, Takahashi squared a pinpoint cross into the box to find Elgersma cutting toward goal. The senior captain met the delivery perfectly, poking his header to the bottom left corner to bring American level at 2-2 going into the break. 
  • The rapid pace of the match continued in the second half, with 12 total shots taken but just one goal scored. CBU broke through to find the would-be game-winner in the 65th minute, when Stavros Charalampous drilled a shot to the top left corner to give the Lancers the 3-2 lead. 
  • AU's comeback hopes were hurt by a second yellow and subsequent red card given to Chris Sullivan 70th minute. Down to 10 men, the Eagles came inches from an equalizer with just seven minutes remaining. On a free kick from straight on and just a few yards outside the box, Elgersma drove his try off the crossbar. 
  • Reyes Parra got one more shot off for AU in the 84th minute, but it was saved by Do Rego. 

Up Next
  • The Eagles will stay on the west coast and travel to Los Angeles to play Loyola Marymount this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. eastern time. 
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