THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - At Rolland Stadium for the third of four consecutive home games, Cal Lutheran hosted Occidental in a men's soccer contest that saw the Kingsmen earn revenge on the Tigers with a 1-0 victory.
When the teams met earlier this season, Occidental scored a late goal to down Cal Lutheran after the Kingsmen played with 10 men for nearly 86 minutes. Tonight it was a reversed outcome as the CLU defense held the Tigers offense off the board and scored the one they needed late in the opening half.
Tonight, head coach Dan Kuntz opted to shuffle his starting line-up, which ultimately paid dividends as CLU returned to the win column for the first time since Oct. 13.
"Playing a schedule like ours with games so close together is tough," Kuntz said following the victory. "We always had the plan of incorporating players into the rotation and with a number of guys worn down tonight was the time."
Film work allowed for added preparation in anticipation of the rematch.
"We knew we needed to bring pressure on their big back and starting Lucas [Kurzon] against him allowed us to limit the chances for Oxy," Kuntz noted.
Another change tonight was moving Alex Wardle, who has tallied 1590 minutes of action, only sitting for half a game against Chapman, to the midfield after playing as primarily a defender the first 18 games.
"Moving Alex allowed him to get the ball to Lucas and Raul [Yepez]," Kuntz shared.
Just over half way through the opening half the changes produced the results the team hoped for.
In the 29th minute CLU had a goal negated as the referees called offsides on the Kingsmen, leaving the teams scoreless, but less than a minute later Raul Yepez lifted a corner kick perfectly in front of the Tigers cage where Ivan Sanchez headed the ball into the net, this time leaving no questions, as the home squad took a 1-0 advantage.
Sanchez was forced from the field four minutes later when he and an opposing player made head-to-head contact.
It was a physical game overall, seeing a trio of yellow cards as well as 17 fouls with Oxy committing 12.
In the second stanza Occidental brought the pressure, peppering the CLU goal with 15 shots, but a solid performance by Jack Duncan kept the Tigers off the board.
A scuffle in front of the CLU cage with just over a minute to play ended with the eighth and final save of the game by the freshman keeper.
"Our guys fought to the end tonight," Kuntz went on, "Occidental battled and made a late push, but our motto of 'all together' echoed throughout the players and everyone worked for the entire game and it paid off."
The teams would combine for 43 shots, Cal Lutheran holding a 22-21 edge.
Among those earning a start was Nathan Davidson. Kuntz spoke to his ability to move the ball and open up opportunities for the offense, which he proved tonight with three shots, producing numerous additional chances for his teammates.
Sanchez, Lucan Kurzon and Tyler Pascoe each took three shots as well while Wardle, Yepez and Matt Hubbard fired off a pair apiece.
Occidental earned more corner kicks, nine, than Cal Lutheran, three.
Jack Kay led the Tigers offense with seven shots, four on goal, as Occidental fell to 7-8 overall, 6-8 in league play.
Cal Lutheran (8-10, 6-8 SCIAC) will recognize its seniors prior to the final home game of the fall on Wednesday, Oct. 24. CLU will host Chapman at 7:00 p.m. at Rolland Stadium.
Box Score: CLU 1, OXY 0
