Julian Mininsohn
Sports Editor
The men’s soccer team finished its 2013 season with a 2-1 overtime loss to Cal Lutheran on senior night Saturday at Ortmayer Stadium. Kingsmen senior forward Kyle Fleming scored the game-winning goal in the 94th minute to seal the victory for Cal Lutheran.
Missed opportunities and some plays that went Cal Lutheran’s way led to the Leopard loss.
“I can’t really narrow it down to one thing,“ senior defender Jared Taylor said. “The ball just doesn’t roll your way sometimes. “
After a scoreless first half, Cal Lutheran struck first in the 49th minute when junior midfielder Tyler Pascoe scored on a one-on-one breakaway against La Verne’s freshmen goalkeeper Dylan Roberts.
Pascoe also recorded to assist to Fleming’s game-winning goal.
“We played our hearts out,“ Roberts said. “They just got a lot of lucky breaks. “
The Leopards tied the game when freshmen defender Martin Torres scored past Kingsmen sophomore goalkeeper Jack Duncan. It was Torres’ first goal of the season.
Freshman forward Nathan Gonzalez recorded the assist for Torres’ goal as well.
The Leopards had an opportunity to win in the 89th minute when the Leopards had a chance to put in a penalty kick.
Junior Boye Christiansen’s shot was saved by Duncan when his shot was blocked on the right side of the goal and batted into the ground.
Duncan tallied eight saves for Cal Lutheran for the game.
“It was a good season,“ senior midfielder Fernando Almejo said. “It just did not come together tonight.“
Alemjo was one of eight Leopard seniors honored before the game. The others included David Gonzalez, Ryan Estrada, Andrew Geenen, Jared Taylor, Joshua Hill, Hector Lepe and Abraham Perez.
“This last week has been a lot of reminiscing,“ Taylor said. “It was nice going out with all these people coming to watch us play.“
Cal Lutheran’s win clinched the final spot in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs. The Kingsmen end their regular season campaign with an 11-6-2 overall record and 9-5-2 record in conference play.
With the loss, La Verne ends the season with a sixth place finish in the SCIAC with a 10-8 overall record and an 8-8 conference record.
“This season we were able to come together and collaborate as one,“ Roberts said. “We had one of the best seasons La Verne has ever seen.“
Julian Mininsohn can be reached at julian.mininsohn@laverne.edu.
