California Baptist University men’s soccer has memorable home opener – Press Enterprise

It was only the first home match of the season, but California Baptist University’s soccer program continues to set attendance marks at its new facility.

A record 1,502 fans came out to watch as the Lancers men’s team earned its first ever point against a ranked opponent with a 2-2 draw against No. 24 Loyola Marymount at CBU Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

“One the one hand, we got a result against a Top 25 team in an absolutely electric environment,” CBU coach Coe Michaelson said. “On the other hand, we feel like we let a win slip away.”

The crowd was the second-largest to attend a collegiate game in California this season. The Lancers (0-2-1 overall) return to CBU Soccer Stadium to take on Cal Thursday at 7 p.m.

“We are testing ourselves with one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country,” Michaelson said. “We need to be mature and stay positive and then be ready for another extremely difficult opponent (Thursday).”

Assisted by King High grad Leo Mendez, Luis Mueller scored his 15th career goal in the 12th minute Saturday, and Lincoln Aquino doubled the Lancers’ lead three minutes later when his shot caromed off the left post and into the side netting.

Loyola Marymount stormed back in the second half, scoring first in the 58th minute before finding an equalizer 10 minutes from full time.

The Lions had an opportunity for a late winner via penalty kick, but CBU freshman goalkeeper Dorian Drucks saved his first PK as a Lancer when he dove to his left and made the stop with his trailing leg.

The Lancers made one last push and Mueller earned a free kick just outside the penalty area in the closing moments, but his shot attempt hit the wall and the final whistle blew.

“There is a lot of learning for us in these games,” Michaelson said. “We are a bit disappointed but all things considered, this is a step forward.”

CBU opened the new campaign with consecutive losses on the road at West Virginia and Michigan.

Drucks, a transfer from Essen, Germany, has played every minute in goal so far this season.

PEREZ WINS BIG WEST PREVIEW

UC Riverside’s Linda Perez won the season-opening Big West Preview at the Blackdale Gold Resort in Nipomo on Friday and was selected as the Big West Cross Country Female Athlete of the Week.

Perez paced the field, winning with a time of 17 minutes, 35.5 seconds. She was followed closely by teammate Collette Lowengrub in second place. The duo led the Highlanders to a second-place overall finish, behind Cal Poly, on the women’s side.

The win was Perez’s fourth top-five finish in eight collegiate races and her second consecutive top-three in a season opener.

The Highlanders host the annual UCR Invitational on Sept. 16 at the Ag Ops Course. The women’s 6K begins at 7:15 a.m.

YOTES PERFECT IN THE DEN

The Cal State San Bernardino women’s volleyball team went unbeaten to win the Yotes Classic Showcase.

Freshman Trinity Sheridan was selected tournament MVP after leading the team in points per set (4.94), kills per set (4.29), with 73 kills and 84 points.

CSUSB defeated MSU-Denver — No. 3 in NCAA Division II AVCA rankings — in the final, 25-23, 16-25, 20-25, 25-19, 16-14, on Saturday.

The win jumped CSUSB to No. 9 in the AVCA poll, and makes the Yotes the highest-ranked CCAA program.

Sheridan, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, was selected CCAA offensive player of the week for her efforts at The Den, which hosted the tournament while Coussoulis Arena is cleaned up from damage sustained from Hurricane Hilary in late August.

CMS POLO GETS EARLY WINS

The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s water polo team opened its season with a pair of wins at the Rare Air Challenge hosted by Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

No CMS player had more than two goals in an 18-12 win over Ottawa (Ariz.) in Game 1, and Cristian Pang was the only player with three goals as the Stags topped Division III rival Johns Hopkins 20-8 in Game 2 on Saturday.

The game against Johns Hopkins was tied 2-2 before CMS scored six consecutive goals. Nick Kennedy gave the Stags the lead for good with 3 minutes, 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

A total of 15 players accounted for the 38 goals for CMS, which hosts the Inland Empire Classic starting Saturday at Axelrod Pool.