Men's Soccer
10/13/2007 - Royals Down Early- Come Up Just Short Against Point Loma
Fullerton, CA- On a rain soaked field, the Royals tried to knock off GSAC rival #19 Point Loma Nazarene but came just short on Saturday- losing 2-1. Sophomore Joshua Bloomfield accounted for Hope's only goal.
Point Loma (11-1, 5-1 GSAC) started the match by running circles around the Royals for the first 20 or so minutes. In the fourth minute, the Sea Lions found the back of the net as Brian Thames laid a ball off a Hope defender to an oncoming teammate, Duach Jock, who rocketed a shot past the out stretched arms of Royals' Goalkeeper Jakob Brown.
In the 23rd minute, the Sea Lions' Jason Smith sent an apparent line drive cross through the box that deflected off the foot Royals sweeper Matt Sanger and into the net. Originally counted as a goal for Smith, the goal was later changed by the officials to an own goal against Sanger and the Royals.
Own goal or not, the second goal seemed to wake up the Royals (8-6, 2-4 GSAC). The Royals responded by scoring a goal that counted in their favor. Bloomfield took a ball on the left side of the field and proceeded to out run the Sea Lion's defense and beat Goalkeeper Bryan Louzil with the shot. That very easily could have been the tying goal as just three minutes earlier Bloomfield had a look at a pretty good at the goal and banged a shot off the post.
In the second half, both teams had numerous chances but could not capitalize. The Royals, who used only one sub all game, caught a break at the end match when PLNU's Chad Vargo received his second yellow card that instantly became a red card forcing the Sea Lions to play a man down.
The Royals return to action on Wednesday (10/17) at home (Cal State Fullerton). Their match against GSAC and NCCAA rival The Master's scheduled for a 3pm kick off.