SAN ANTONIO, Tex. - The taste of ending a 15-year NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament appearance drought was sweet for Cal Lutheran, but a 2-0 shutout loss to host No. 7 Trinity in the First Round, left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Kingsmen tonight at McGinlay Soccer Field.
Despite the defeat, there was a lot of positive for the 2013 squad.
"I could not be any more proud of my team," head coach Dan Kuntz shared after the game. "Everything they accomplished this year is a testament to their dedication to this team and one another. I am excited to see what the future holds for Kingsmen soccer."
After losing defender Alex Wardle to an injury mid-way through the season, Jimmy Carter stepped up and earned a spot in the starting rotation, making an immediate impact. Unfortunately, Carter was unable to travel to Texas and the void was slightly too much to fill, though the backfield comprised of Jorge Galvan, Ivan Sanchez, Matthew Scipione and Tal Zaiet put forth a strong effort tonight. Another phenomenal performance from goalkeeper Jack Duncan who finished with 14 total saves, a dozen of which came in the second half, kept CLU in the game.
The contest was a very offensively based one with the teams combining for 54 shots. CLU fired off 26, including 10 on target, led by four from Salvador Orozco while both Logan Cone and Nathan Davidson had three chances with a pair at the goal.
Just as the men's soccer team was out supporting the volleyball team last night, the Regals were in the stands, cheering on their classmates throughout the game.
In the first half, CLU outshot TU 11-10 with Thiago Gaglianone taking the first shot for the Kingsmen in the 6th minute, though it went high. Three other players each took two shots in the first 45 minutes.
It was the Tigers' Jonny Lawson who put up the first crooked number, scoring the ultimate game-winning goal, on a dual assist from Darren McAfee and Yuir Ribeiro at the 13:39 mark.
Cal Lutheran had a series of chances to equalize in the 37th minute off a corner kick from Orozco, but shots from Bryce Truver and Nick Baldi were both blocked.
After the break the Kingsmen had the first opportunity by way of Matt Hubbard whose shot went wide, but again it was the Tigers who found the back of the net when Simon Uribe headed the ball past Duncan, assisted by Ribeiro again, at 54:47.
Fresh off the bench in the 59th minute Davidsonand Gabriel Fernando nearly connected for a goal, but the duo was denied. CLU had another opportunity minutes later on a corner kick, but again the opportunity slipped away as the shot from Cone was blocked by a TU defender.
In the 65th minute Davidson created a shot, but the ball sailed just high, clearing the goal. Three and five minutes later Henry Breheny fired off a pair, one going high, the other getting blocked.
Duncan posted a back-to-back saves in the 75th minute on shots from Ribeiro and Todd Edwards, keeping the gap at two.
With less than 10 minutes to play CLU had three more looks. Orozcotook a free-kick from 40 yards out and nearly bent the ball into the top corner of the net, but it skimmed the top of the crossbar. Julian Hernandez had one that went wide and the final chance for the Violet and Gold came from Cameron Rude, but it was saved by Trinity goalkeeper Matt Cardone as he finished with 10.
A save by Duncan in the 88th minute forced the sophomore to leave his feet and 30 seconds later he recorded his final save of the contest.
Trinity (19-2-1) advances to the Second Round against the winner of the T-No. 20 Puget Sound versus Hardin-Simmons game tonight. Ribeiro led all players with eight shots, six on target, and Victor Araujo finished with five.
Cal Lutheran (13-7-2) bids farewell to six seniors.
Box Score: TU 1, CLU 0
Tournament Central: 2013 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament
Bracket: 2013 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament Bracket
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